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Junior Doctors at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra say they "totally reject the current offer of 8% as salary adjustment for 2009." The Junior Doctors "shall not accept anything less than 17%," said a statement signed by Chairman, Dr. Ernest Yorke, and issued on August 14 following an emergency meeting held earlier in August 7. The doctors say they are disappointed at the pace of ongoing salary negotiations. According to them, it is apparent that "the government side is deliberately dragging its feet and is not committed to a speedy conclusion of the negotiations." They expressed surprise that the government proposed an eight percent salary increment for 2009 to health workers while it offered the Ghana Trades Union Congress and organized labour between 17 and 20 percent for the same year. The doctors are therefore demanding the conclusion of current salary negotiations by the end of August. In addition, they are calling for the implementation of the terms of a memorandum of understanding concerning salary arrears and conditions of service for 2008. "We wish to indicate that if by the end of August 2009, the MOU has not been implemented and/or the current salary negotiations not concluded, Junior Doctors in Ghana would wear red arm bands for a week," the doctors warned. Thereafter, they will determine the next line of action depending on the progress made. Nonetheless, "We are calling on all well meaning Ghanaians to hold government to task if the peace we are enjoying currently in the health sector deteriorates." Also, the doctors cannot fathom why government has "unilaterally varied the terms" of the MOU regarding 2008 salary arrears and reminded the Ministry of Health that the suspension of the "Work-to-Rule" initiative in May 2009 was with the hope that the MOU would be implemented fully. Therefore, they are urging government to urgently revert to implement the agreed terms of the MOU and accordingly pay salary arrears for 2008. Since 2006 salaries of doctors have not been reviewed despite several attempts to get these issues resolved. Early this year, junior doctors, particularly at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, shortly laid down their tools over their conditions of service. The action received the backing of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA). Subsequently, a work-to-rule action was adopted to press home demands for salary reviews and working conditions. The action meant that doctors nationwide closed at 1700 hours and did not work on weekends.