Ghana doctors say they await government’s commitment on payment of conversion difference

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) says it is waiting for the written commitment of government before the striking doctors could resume work fully.

The commitment letter should instruct Controller and Accountant Generals’ to restore the payment of conversion difference and refund to them the arrears with a payment schedule.

A statement jointly issued by the President, Dr Kwabena Opoku Adusei and the General Secretary Dr Frank Serebour and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the doctors are neither demanding for immediate payment nor one lump payment of the conversion difference.

“The GMA will like to state emphatically that we jealously guard the salaries and pensions of doctors in the public sector,” it said.

The statement noted that any delay in resolution of the issue and subsequent resumption of work by doctors should be laid at the doorstep of government, adding, that the restoration of the conversion difference would automatically correct the reduced pensions.

The statement recounted the meeting held on April 19, at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations where it was established that indeed the doctors were paid conversion difference for several months with the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure but was suspended by government and amounts already paid subsequently recovered.

“The meeting was adjourned with the understanding that the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Employment were to seek mandate for the restoration and refund of arrears of conversion difference”.

The GMA expressed the willingness to call of the strike in totality and resume work fully if the government commit itself to a signed document instructing the Controller and Accountant Generals’ Department to restore the payment of conversion difference and refund the arrears with a payment schedule.

Source: GNA