The frequent industrial actions, particularly, in a critical sector like health, has become a source of worry to the country, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has observed.
The Asante King noted that he was deeply worried because the persistent strike actions have had negative tolls on the country�s development and its quest to become a middle income country.
Speaking at the opening session of the 53rd Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) held in Kumasi, the Asantehene noted that in a modern day governance system where every country aspires to progress economically, it was unacceptable to allow strikes and suspensions of services to prevail in the public sector, without appropriate mechanisms to resolve grievances.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, therefore charged political leaders, stakeholders, and people placed in authority to negotiate for better service conditions, to devise modern sophisticated methods of handling issues, rather than resorting to industrial actions.
While commending executives of the Ghana Medical Association for suspending the strike action, the overlord of the Ashanti Kingdom also charged the National Labour Commission (NLC) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to expedite action on the grievances of the doctors, to ensure the prevalence of peace in the health sector.
The Asantehene noted that it would be not in the interest of anyone or group of people in the country to see doctors or other professionals embark on strike actions, stressing that the consequences of such unfortunate situation were often suicidal.
He commended the medical staff for their services to the country, but said he was not happy with the level of brain drain that had resulted in most health personnel going to seek greener pastures outside the country.
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