All OPDs to be shutdown effective Monday,15th July 2024

 

Nurses and Midwives Join Forces with Organised Labour in Protest Against SSNIT's Hotel Sale

In a show of solidarity with Organised Labour, the President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, has announced that all Outpatient Departments in health facilities will be closed starting Monday, July 15, 2024. This move is aimed at pressuring the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to terminate the controversial sale of its hotels.

The GRNMA's decision comes on the heels of Organised Labour's ultimatum to SSNIT, demanding an immediate halt to the sale process. The labour union argues that the sale is not in the best interest of Ghanaian workers, and nurses and midwives are joining forces to amplify this message.

While other departments in health facilities will continue to operate until further notice, the closure of Outpatient Departments is expected to have a significant impact on the healthcare system. Patients seeking non-emergency care will have to seek alternative arrangements, and healthcare workers are bracing themselves for the potential consequences.

The sale of SSNIT's hotels has sparked widespread outrage among Ghanaian workers, who see it as a betrayal of their trust. SSNIT is responsible for managing the pensions of public sector workers, and the sale of its assets is perceived as a threat to their financial security.

By joining forces with Organised Labour, the GRNMA is sending a strong message to the government and SSNIT: that the interests of workers must be prioritized. The association's president, Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, has urged all members to support the strike action, emphasizing the need for solidarity in the face of adversity.

As the standoff between Organised Labour and SSNIT continues, the fate of Ghanaian workers hangs in the balance. Will the government and SSNIT listen to the voices of workers, or will they proceed with a sale that benefits a select few at the expense of many? Only time will tell.

The closure of Outpatient Departments is a stark reminder of the consequences of this impasse. Patients will suffer, healthcare workers will be affected, and the healthcare system will be stretched to its limits. But for the nurses and midwives of Ghana, this is a matter of principle. They will not stand idly by while their colleagues' pensions are put at risk.

In the words of Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, "We will not be silenced. We will not be intimidated. We will stand with Organised Labour and fight for the rights of workers." The battle lines have been drawn, and the fate of Ghanaian workers hangs in the balance.

Source Gh Edu Pro 

Credit: All Media houses