The Ghana Medical Association has expressed grave reservations about comments made by the deputy Minister of Health, daring striking doctors to resign or accept government’s offer.
It has been two weeks since the doctors and government, represented by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), have been haggling over the matter of their placement on the new pay structure. The Labour Commission has therefore directed that the doctors and the FWSC go into compulsory arbitration on Monday.
Even before meeting the NLC, Rojo Mettel-Nunoo, deputy Minister of Health, Friday made audacious statements on Joy FM, much to the displeasure of many doctors.
General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Sodzi Sodzi-Tetteh has described the minister’s statements as “sad”, adding that they are “extremely prejudicial”.
He told Dzifa Bampoh on Joy FM’s Top Story that though they are yet to be given any ultimatum from the government, statements, such as the one made by Mr Mettle-Nuoo, have the tendency to mar the arbitration process and fundamentally undermine any negotiation process.
“You are supposed to negotiate in good faith, and you are not supposed to becoming to negotiation table with threats.”
Dr. Sodzi-Tetteh also called on the National Labour Commission to “hold the Hon. Deputy Minister in total contempt of its proceedings; hauled him before their panel and sanction him promptly”.
He said reprimanding the Deputy Minister would give “integrity” to the arbitration process; otherwise, the process would be “fundamentally flawed”.
He said doctors, on their part, are ready to meet the FWSC and negotiate, but accused the latter of taking entrenched position and unwilling to amend its decision.
Meanwhile, a labour analyst, Ben Agbai, has counseled both parties to avoid the arbitration, warning they may not like the consequences.
“Infact, arbitration settlement are lose, lose settlement; so if you can avoid arbitration settlement, the better”
He explained further: “It may turn out not to be in the interest of either of them…because they don’t have any control over what the arbitrator is going to say. The arbitrator is only going to look at the facts on the ground and give a ruling that both sides are expected to abide by.”
Mr Agbai was worried about the standoff, saying it could be likened to the proverbial elephants fighting where the grass suffer, noting that it is the general public that is facing the brunt of the two parties’ actions.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Medical Association Council is expected to meet on Sunday October 23 to review the doctors' strike.
Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75183.php
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