The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has strongly defended its decision to withdraw from the nationwide strike organized by Organised Labour, which was scheduled for October 10, 2024, to protest the government’s handling of illegal mining activities.
The GMA, which represents healthcare professionals across the country, explained that its decision was made based on humanitarian considerations, particularly the potential disruption of essential health services.
Addressing the matter during the 66th annual conference of the GMA, Dr. Frank Serebour, President of the Association, elaborated on the reasoning behind the move.
He clarified that the decision not to join the strike was made following a majority vote by the GMA council on October 3, 2024. Dr. Serebour emphasized that this was not a unilateral decision but a collective one by the governing body of the Association.
“The decision by the GMA not to join the Organised Labour strike on October 10, 2024, was a council decision taken on October 3, 2024,” he explained.
He also expressed his disappointment over how the information regarding the council’s decision was prematurely leaked to the media.
“Two days after the decision was made, before members could be formally informed, the details were leaked from the council platform, leading to chaos and various uncomplimentary discussions,” Dr. Serebour noted.
This leak, according to Dr. Serebour, fueled confusion and created misunderstandings, with some critics wrongly attributing the decision to internal division within the GMA.
He reassured the public that the decision was taken with the primary concern of safeguarding patient care and ensuring that the health sector would not be disrupted during an already challenging period.
Dr. Serebour further emphasized that the GMA recognized the importance of the issues raised by Organised Labour, particularly the need for stronger government action on illegal mining, which has had serious environmental and health consequences.
However, he argued that striking would have exacerbated the suffering of vulnerable populations who rely on healthcare services.
The GMA President reaffirmed the association’s commitment to advocating for improved working conditions and better policies for healthcare professionals, but made it clear that this would be done through dialogue and constructive engagement, rather than through actions that could harm public welfare.
The GMA has called for continued dialogue with the government and other stakeholders to address pressing concerns, such as inadequate resources and the safety of health professionals, while ensuring that essential health services are maintained.
