"Please, end the strike now" - FMC appeals to doctors


The Federation of Muslim Councils FMC  has expressed  concerned about the increasing spate of strikes by several worker unions in the country, the  most prominent being  the strike action  by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) over Conditions of Service for doctors in the public sector. 

In a press statement issued on Sunday, and signed by Hajj Muhammad Kpakpo Addo General Secretary, of the Federation of Muslim Councils said it was sad for the negotiation between government and the GMA to end abruptly leading to continuous loss of innocent lives as a result of the stalemate.
 
The statement said ‘In order to save lives, the FMC  joins other sober minds and  voices in the country by  appealing   to the GMA to call off the strike action  by its members to restore  Out-Patient  and emergency services in public health facilities while they  continue negotiating with government’.
 
According to the statement ‘The FMC also calls on government to continue with the negations for a just and mutual end to the crisis adding that the FMC was forced to make the statement and appeal over the week-end at the end of an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council under the chairmanship of Alhaj Abdullah Showumi Williams to consider the strike action’.

It is recalled  that  In a Press Statement signed by both the President and General Secretary of the GMA on Friday,  August 14, 2015, at the end of an extra-ordinary meeting, the GMA decided to “continue with In-Patient care” and “Continue to withdraw Out-Patient Department and emergency services”.

The FMC said ‘we consider it commendable for members of the GMA to continue with In-Patient care while negotiating; but it would be most laudable to extend the same care to OPD and emergency clients while negotiating, in order to save innocent lives’. 

The FMC also appealed to the general public, especially social commentators, to be circumspect in their statements for and against the doctors to allow coolness of minds and sober reflection by the negotiating parties in a matter which has already claimed precious innocent lives. 

The statement said ‘Ghanaians are inter-related and we cannot afford to allow this matter to escalate to uncontrollable proportions, adding that It is also our prayer that Allah the Almighty will grant peace and understanding to prevail’.


GBC