Ken Kuranchie Commends Doctors For Rescinding Strike

The Managing Editor of the Daily Searchlight, Ken Kuranchie, has commended public sector doctors for rescinding their decision to embark on a nationwide strike action. Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM�s Morning show programme �kokrokoo� with host Tweneboah Kodua (TK), on Wednesday, he praised the doctors for heeding the President�s order for them to cooperate with the National Labour Commission and Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, to resolve the inconsistencies in their Single Spine Salary Scheme (SSSS). The doctors had earlier indicated they would embark on a nationwide strike from Monday, February 18, 2013 over issues regarding their migration onto the scheme. The public sector health workers threatened to commence their strike with the withdrawal of outpatient clinical services from Monday, February 11 to February 17 but only attend to emergencies and inpatient services. The Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), George Smith-Graham, described the action as premature. However, the Chief of Staff, Prosper Bani, a couple of days ago held a meeting with the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the National Labour Comission (NLC) and the FWSC at the Flagstaff House to discuss the impasse warranting the doctors� strike action. According to a statement signed by the Information Minister, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, the Chief of Staff urged all the stakeholders to allow the appropriate institutions of state to resolve their disputes. A portion of the statement read that following the deliberations by all the parties, the FWSC and GMA agreed to abide by the arbitration award of the NLC referenced NLC/32/20/20013/39E. Ken kuranchie reacting to the doctors� plight charged State authorities to roll out punitive measures to workers in the Labour Commission as well as the FWSC, the Ministry of Finance and the Health Ministry, who fail to effectively execute their duties to ensure that the issues concerning the Single Spine Salary Scheme are addressed. He therefore charged the Labour Commission to work hard to find a lasting solution to the doctors� conflict relating to their Salary Scheme.