Government will today meet health sector labour groups to start negotiations in a bid to end a longstanding impasse over the conditions of service for doctors.
The unions boycotted the signing of a general framework document last Wednesday claiming they were not privy to the details.
Doctors have insisted they will resign en masse from tomorrow June 30 unless they sign a document that will eventually lead the clarification of the conditions of service.
Ahead of the meeting with government, the Executive Council of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called an extraordinary general meeting of its over 4,000 members today to firm up plans.
Employment and Labour Relations Minister Haruna Iddrisu is however confident today’s meeting will resolve the thorny issues.
“Government will begin crucial negotiations with the health service workers, I trust and I’m hopeful that within a fortnight, not later than 30 days, we should bring closure and have established for health workers in the country, a formal acceptable conditions of service negotiated and agreed on by the parties”, he said.
He believes that the talks will be fruitful because all ground rules have been set for the commencement of negotiations.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Deputy General Secretary of the GMA, Justice Yankson said the Association will meet with government hoping to find a solution to the problem.
“We agree that the ministries of health and employment have tried to engage generally the health workers and we have been able to create a framework document for negotiations.
“But for us at the GMA, what really matters to us is a negotiation between us as a union or employees and the government as an employer. It is that particular thing that we’ve been calling for all this while”, he said.
Dr Yankson said the situation would not have gotten this serious if government had acted on the doctors' request on time.
“For now we are going to stand our ground and our position is simple, we want our conditions of service”, he said.