BY : Boateng Valice Godstime
University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho
MBChB’ 27

Doctors at Ghana’s premier health facility, Korle-Bu have threatened to withdraw their services following a disagreement with management over the mode of payment of Thirteenth Month Salary arrears. They have threatened to embark on a strike action if their proposed mode of payment ( as outlined in a letter to the management of the hospital) is not adopted.
They further accused the management of the hospital of bad faith in the process of paying the 13th month, which they say is part of their conditions of service.

They argue that the departmental mode of payment management is going to bring about unfairness especially to doctors in financially challenged departments .

Management of KBTH refused to heed to the contents of the letter dated 13th December 2022 from Korle Bu Doctors’ Association (KODA) not to make any unilateral payment of 25% of the arrears unless a clear-cut timeline for payment for the rest of the arrears has been agreed upon.

“Management of KBTH refused to meet its own deadline of reverting with timelines for the settlement of the outstanding amounts by 27th January, 2023 as captured in its letter to KODA dated 3rd January 2023,” the doctors said in a statement.
“If nothing is heard, from the 13th of February onwards, emergencies would be refused till all inpatients are discharged,” the statement cautioned.

The doctors advised the hospital management to proactively address their issues to prevent being hit by a strike action.