We wish to use your esteemed media outlets to call on civil society, human rights and religious organisations to join us in calling on the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to bring an immediate end to its current strike action on compassionate and humanitarian grounds. Specifically, we ask organisations such as the Christian Council, the Coalition of Muslim Organisations – Ghana, the Ghana Human Rights NGO Forum and like-minded social justice organisations to persuade the GMA to end the strike action. The leadership of the GMA can prevent further loss of lives, further suffering and further pain by ending the strike action and returning to the negotiation table. We make this call because we believe that access to healthcare is a human right as is the right to life. Indeed, the Preamble to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) constitution declares that it is one of the fundamental rights of every human being to enjoy "the highest attainable standard of health". Sadly, we must truthfully note that, by calling on its members to lay down their tools, the GMA has caused its members to violate the fundamental right of the good people of Ghana as well as sections of the Labour Act prohibiting strike or lockout in respect of essential services. As an organisation that seeks to promote respect for human rights, justice and equality, we believe that our doctors have an obligation to save lives. We pray they return to doing so and hope they will do so at all times. We must however note in conclusion that should our appeal fail, we will explore other options to ensure that the right of the citizenry to healthcare, which is a fundamental human right, are respected. Signed Dr. Clement A. Apaak Convener, Forum for Governance and Justice - Ghana 020 011 7620 info.fgj@gmail.com