As the doctors’ strike enters its 17th day, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) says it will accede to the compulsory arbitration as directed by the National Labour Commission. The strike, according to the doctors, however, persists, regardless of a provision in the Labour Act which requires striking parties to a compulsory arbitration to call off their strike. The General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Sodzi Sodzi-Tetteh says the GMA has doubts as to whether the strike can be called off without offending the law. That, he said, is because, in view of the suit filed by the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations in Health - seeking to compel the GMA to call off the strike - calling it off while the case is yet to be determined by the court, may amount to violating the processes at the High Court. Dr Sodzi-Tetteh told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show varying the status of the doctors while the suit is pending could be improper. He believes the National Labour Commission itself may not be able to proceed with the arbitration process, saying the directive to the GMA and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to go for compulsory arbitration ought to have taken cognizance of the pending suit against the doctors at the High Court. The Public Relations Officer of the NLC, Mr Mohammed Affum said the NLC will consult its lawyers on whether it could proceed with the process or not. He is confident the NLC will give awards within 14 days after the arbitration starts, hoping that will be acceptable to both parties. Mr Affum said if after the award, which will be binding by law, the doctors refuse to call off the strike, the NLC is empowered by law to make an application to the High Court to compel them to do so.