Call off strike, Mills tells doctors; NPP left no money to implement SSSS

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Created on Wednesday, 12 October 2011 00:00

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Call off strike, Mills tells doctors; NPP left no money to implement SSSS

President John Mills has appealed to striking doctors to call off the four-day old strike and return to work.

He said things have become difficult and urged the agitated doctors to consider dying patients at the various hospitals across the country and return to work.

According to him, the NPP announced the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) but left no money to implement it, adding the doctors must exercise restraint in going about their activities.

The President said this during a tour of the Greater Accra Region to inspect ongoing projects, Tuesday, Joy News' Presidential correspondent Seth Kwame Boateng reported.

The Ghana Medical Association last Friday announced a nationwide strike to protest what they claim was stalled negotiation and a lull in migration onto the Single Spine Salary Structure.

They blame the Fair Wages and Salary Commission as well as government for doing very little to address their grievances.

Patients across the country are already feeling the ‘pain’ of empty wards and OPDs with no doctor ready and available to attend to them.

Depending on how precarious and emergency their situation is they are either given a first aid and sent back home or admitted for careful examination.

The doctors have come under a barrage of criticisms from some stakeholders, including government spokespersons, with a call on them to return to work.

President John Mills on Tuesday waded into the crisis situation, appealing to the doctors to return to duty.

He said government is willing and ready to sit with them to address their grievances.
cease fire
Meanwhile, a former rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) is cautioning against inflammatory comments that will exacerbate the dire situation created as a result of striking doctors.

Prof. Stephen Addae told Luv FM’s Elton John Brobbey government will be worse off should the doctors’ strike persist, urging rather for a third party resolution.

He has called for a cease fire from government spokespersons.


From: Ghana/Myjoyonline.com/Nathan Gadugah