By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Members of the Health Accounting Staff Association (HASA) of Ghana have served notice to embark on a nationwide strike over a decision taken by the Management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
According to the group, on September 20, 2023, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KBTH delivered release letters dated September 19, 2023, to five accountants of the hospital to report to the Health Ministry for re-assignment, effective September 26, 2023.
“To our utmost dismay, all the affected accountants are leaders of the local branch of HASA Ghana Union in the KBTH made up of four branch Council members and one executive member of the union, who is the Korle-Bu branch Vice president of the Association.
From all indications, they are being taken out of the KBTH permanently to be reassigned under the Ministry of Health and never to return to the hospital,” a statement they issued said.
“We are by this communique serving notice that, if the release letters given to our Union leaders at KBTH are not withdrawn within seven (7) working days from the date of this letter, the union shall embark on a nationwide strike action to demand the withdrawal of the letters,” they threatened.
This move by the CEO and the Ministry to take the local union leaders out of the hospital permanently, they added, will make it next to impossible for them to fight for the rights of members, and it is not in accordance with the public service provision and the framework for negotiating the conditions of service for the Ghanaian public sector health workforce.
“Reference is hereby made to Section 3.1.i-iii of the framework for negotiating condition of service for Ghana public sector health workforce 2015 page 12 on the posting referred to as “the Conditions of service”, states that, i. Where the posting is intended to be more than two (2) years a reasonable period of not less than three (3) months’ notice shall be given to the employee. Ii. As far as possible, postings shall be done before the commencement of each academic year.
iii. Enable employees to arrange for schools for their wards where necessary. Posting should, under no circumstances, be used as a punitive measure.
It is obvious that the release is a pure attempt aimed at victimising and intimidating the leadership and its members in order to gloss over due process involved in the appointment of a substantive director of finance for which the case is pending in court for determination,” it noted.
According to the group, a discussion that has gone on with certain stakeholders indicates clearly that the affected members are being transferred because of their involvement in the case before the law court.
The leadership of the union says it believes the release of the five members of the association is not justified, especially once the matter is in court.
“To this end, we call on His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander in Chief of the Ghana Arm Forces, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, to call the Health Minister, the Board Chairman of KBTH, and the CEO of KBTH to order in the interest of industrial peace and harmony,” they demanded.
