Annan urges govt, doctors to return to negotiating table to achieve amicable settlement of issues

President Mahama in a handshake with Mr Kofi Annan during a courtesy call at the Flagstaff HousePresident Mahama in a handshake with Mr Kofi Annan during a courtesy call at the Flagstaff HouseFormer United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appealed to the government and striking doctors to get back to the negotiating table to resolve outstanding issues between them.

He said it was crucial for both parties to adopt an open mind to achieve an amicable settlement of the issues.

“It is imperative that the doctors and the government come to the negotiating table to find a way out of the stalemate that is facing all of us,” he said

Mr Annan made the appeal Tuesday after a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama at the Flagstaff House, Kanda in Accra.

The meeting was held behind closed doors, but Mr Annan told journalists later that it centred on development issues and efforts being made by President Mahama to enhance the development of the country.

The strike embarked on by the doctors has entered its third week. The doctors initially withdrew their services to out-patients but have since Monday withdrawn all emergency services. They are now attending to only patients on admission until they are well and discharged.

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has mentioned the inability of the government to address the issues of conversion difference and reduced pension of doctors in the public sector as the reason for the continuous strike.

But the government says it has done all that is required of it following an agreement it signed with the leadership of the GMA.

Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru


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