Govt. Does Not Respect Us...The Only Word They Understand Is Strike

Members of the Ghana Medical Association have forewarned government of their intention to embark on a nationwide strike if the state is not prepared to settle the outstanding debts they owe medical personnel. The association, via their vice president Dr. Kwabena Opoku-Adusei, told Okay FM that though the members are only demanding their payments even without the profits it has accumulated, government has shown that it was not ready to settle the payments even though it pledged to do so some months ago. According to Dr. Opoku-Adusei, it appears the NDC government has no feeling for the welfare of workers and only understands the meaning of �strike action�. He posited that though government had what it takes to solve the grievances of public servants, it usually approaches their problems with a lackadaisical attitude and redressed it when workers decide to go on strike. �We have attended several meetings with government but it appears they have no respect for us. The government isn�t respecting the laws of the land and has shown us gross disrespect. Initially, they told us they would pay us in March, and then they said May; meanwhile the law of the land stipulates how much we should be paid,� he said. Dr. Opoku-Adusei maintained that it is sad on the part of government to lure doctors with ironic phrases like �when it comes to service to the nation, it is an essential service� but �when it comes to payments, it is unnecessary�. �It appears government only understand the �strike� language, and this is the language we would use to communicate with them,� he vowed.