KATH Lab Scientists to be penalised for defying court order – Ofosu Asamoah

Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission (NLC) has said that stringent sanctions will be meted out to striking Medical Laboratory Scientists at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for disobeying the court injunction on the strike.

Speaking on JoyNews, Monday, May 31, Ofosu Asamoah reiterated the Commission’s decision to withdraw salaries and terminate appointments of health personnel involved in the ongoing nationwide strike.

“If it is true they have refused to go to work, the consequences are clearly stated in the law so that will be the next action. The first two lies with their employer that is either terminate their employment without notice or withdraw their salaries for the period within which they failed to work because they were engaged in the illegal strike action,” he said.

NLC on Friday, May 28, secured an interlocutory injunction compelling Laboratory Scientists across the country to call off their strike.

However, JoyNews Nana Yaw Gyimah who visited KATH on the morning of Monday, May 31, reported that the hospitals’ laboratories still remain closed despite the directive.

Members of GAMLS at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital on May 20, decided to lay down their tools over Management’s failure to withdraw two physicians posted to their directorate.

The protest, which began as a sit-down strike, escalated into a total withdrawal of services after an emergency meeting on Wednesday, May 26.

The industrial action has since seen some Ghanaians bear the brunt of the absence of striking workers in various health institutions.

Meanwhile, Mr Ofosu Asamoah has indicated hat the Commission is likely to apply to the high court and cite the striking health professionals for contempt.