While some members of Ghana’s biggest opposition political group, the NPP, like the flagbearer, Nana Akufo- Addo, and Dr. Arthur Kennedy, see the current strike by doctors in the country as an opportunity to score cheap political points, others have chosen not to stoop so low and have thus instead chastised the doctors for their inhuman act which has led so far to the lose of a number of precious lives.
One of such persons is Mr. Kwabena Sarpong, a businessman and a vociferous key member of the NPP who is noted for his strong stand on may issues.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme yesterday morning, Mr. Sarpong, who was livid with anger at the decision by doctors in public hospitals to go on strike called on the government not to pay the salaries of the doctors for the period they have withdrawn their services. He also called for legislation to prevent doctors from going on strike. Mr. Sarpong’s stance has been hailed by many political watchers this paper talked to. They opine that it is a departure from the norm where opposition politicians see such strikes as opportunities to score cheap political points.
Meanwhile, many Ghanaians continue to condemn the strike by the doctors, particularly the call on them by the President of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr. Adom Winful, not to tackle even emergency cases. Reports say many of the doctors are unhappy with this directive, especially as they continue to receive calls from their colleagues from other parts of the world condemning them for going to such extremes just to back their demand for higher income.
Intelligence gathered by this paper indicates that what the doctors are rejecting is an addition of a minimum of GH ¢630 (¢6,300,000) and a maximum of GH ¢1,300 (¢13,000,000) to their salaries as calculated by the Fair Wages & Salaries Commission.
