An aspiring Deputy Eastern Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has made a passionate appeal to striking labour unions, especially doctors, to consider the plight of innocent Ghanaians affected by the withdrawal of their services and call it off.

Francis Annoh-Dompreh believes the resort to strike actions have become one too many, and while the workers may have a legitimate reason, it is the ordinary Ghanaian who suffers. 

He has therefore urged the leaders of the 12 unions currently on a nationwide strike to return to the negotiating table with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and seek an urgent solution to the impasse over the tier two pensions.

Mr Annoh-Dompreh made the call in an interview with Adomonline.com.

12 Labour unions, including the Health Service Workers Union (HSWU), Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) have embarked on an indefinite strike to demand that government transfers monies deducted from their salaries for the tier two pension as mandated under Act 766.

According to Reynolds Tenkorang, Convenor of the striking workers, their action is a last resort and aimed at getting government to transfer the said monies to fund managers to allow retiring workers to receive their pensions.

Government however insists the right things, such as the setting up of Trustees, must be done before the transfer can be effected.

There is also a raging controversy over the actual amount, deducted since 2010 when the law became operational, with government officials quoting different figures.

Nevertheless the aspiring NDC leader believes the issues can be resolved if all parties negotiate on good faith.

“Everything can be resolved if all parties come to the table with Ghana’s interest at heart” he opined.

“I am appealing to the workers, especially the doctors, to call off the strike and attend to innocent Ghanaians caught in the middle.”