Health workers give COLA ultimatum, strike scheduled for Aug 1

A coalition of four Associations of health workers have served notice that they will embark on industrial action in a move to demand a 20 percent Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).

In a series of moves that intended to grind healthcare delivery at public facilities to a halt, the four groups namely; the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA); Health Services Workers' Union (HSWU); and Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) say if negotiations on COLA are not completed by July 22, 2022, they will embark on a series of actions that will disrupt the health sector.

A press release jointly signed by the General Secretary of the GMA, Dr Titus K. Beyuo, the President of the GTNMA, Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo; the General Secretary of the HSWU of the Trade Union Congress and the Chairman of GHOSPA, Pharmacist Nathan Coompson said the action will begin with the wearing of red arm/wrist bands in all health facilities between July 25 - July 27, 2022.

This will be followed by the withdrawal of Out-Patient Department (OPD) Services between July 28 to July 31, 2022.

The coalition also intends to climax the protest with the withdrawal of OPD and In-patient services on August 1, 2022.

Read the entire release below;