A leading member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and a Public Interest Lawyer, Sam Pee Yalley has accused the the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) of having embarked on strike actions more than any other institution in the country.
According to him, the GMA’s penchant for industrial actions has led to a big disparity in the country’s pay structure.
Lawyer Sam Pee Yalley asserted that because the doctors are aware that when their demands are not met people will die, they go on strike so that government will hastily give in to their demands.
He has therefore asked the doctors to understand when government says there is no money to pay them in full and accept payment in installments.
“When they go on strike people die; is this the reason why they have to hold the neck of this country? The last meeting that was called to resolve this issue, the doctors refused to go there because they said they don’t want to discuss our issues with anybody. If the government says we don’t have; it doesn’t mean they won’t pay. If they pay in full and the country will collapse, the payment in trenches must be accepted” he indicated.
Contributing to panel discussions on Radio Gold’s Alhaji and Alhaji on the issue of the doctor’s strike action, Sam Pee Yaley asked the President to show leadership by example and insist that the right thing is done especially in terms of the labour laws and laws binding institutions providing essential services.
“I am expecting nothing more than strong leadership from the president because we cannot carry on like this. If you give the doctors what they are demanding, the pharmacist will also demand…it is about time we call a spade a spade…” he added.