The General Secretary of the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG), Richard Kofi Jordan, has announced that all mortuary workers across the country will embark on an indefinite strike starting Thursday, September 27.

This action comes after prolonged grievances, including inadequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), unpaid salary arrears, and unfulfilled promises regarding bonuses and financial clearance for new staff.

In an interview on Joy News’ PM Express, Mr Jordan expressed frustration with the slow response from the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies, despite repeated discussions and negotiations.

“We Don’t Have PPEs, and It’s Affecting Our Work”

One of the main concerns raised by Mr Jordan is the lack of adequate PPEs for mortuary workers, a critical issue that has persisted for years.

“Our issues have to do, number one, with PPEs, which is non-negotiable. We should have them, but currently, we don’t have them adequately, and it is affecting the work we do,” he said.

He stated that providing PPEs is essential for the safety of workers who handle sensitive tasks in challenging environments, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic

“Unpaid Salary Arrears Dating Back to 2020”

Mr Jordan also highlighted the issue of unpaid salary arrears, which have been accumulating since 2020.

Despite several engagements with the Ministry of Health and other government bodies, the arrears remain unpaid, adding financial strain to the already burdened workers.

“We have been battling with the Ministry of Health and other agencies for some time now because of these salary arrears,” he added.

Financial Clearance and Staffing Issues

Another point of contention is the need for financial clearance to recruit more mortuary workers, as the current workforce is stretched thin.

“We are seeking to have more mortuary workers join us because of the workload and the fewer people doing it,” Mr. Jordan said.

He noted that despite ongoing discussions with government agencies, no concrete steps have been taken to address the staffing shortages.

COVID-19 Bonuses Promised but Not Delivered

Mortuary workers were left out of the bonuses promised by the government to frontline health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Jordan expressed disappointment, stating, “The President promised bonuses for all frontline health workers, but mortuary workers were exempted. These are the four key issues that we are dealing with for this particular strike action.”

“We Won’t Wait Until November”

In response to a recent meeting with representatives from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Finance, Mr Jordan said government had asked for more time to address the issues, promising solutions by the end of November.

However, he clarified that the association would not accept further delays.

“It has always been the same story. This time around, they are saying we should give them until the close of November, but we are not going to allow that,” Mr Jordan stated.

He stressed that the issues have been raised multiple times over the years, with no meaningful action taken.

Nationwide Strike Imminent

Mr. Jordan concluded the interview by issuing a firm directive to all mortuary workers to close their facilities on Thursday, September 27, until their demands are met.

Source: myjoyonline.com

Nana Yaa Jantuah, the former Public Relations and External Affairs Director of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), has made a shocking revelation, alleging that she was subjected to humiliating treatment, including being stripped naked, during her arrest and detention by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI)

On May 12, 2017, Nana Yaa Jantuah and Samuel Sarpong, Executive Secretary of the PURC, were summoned by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), now the National Intelligence Bureau for questioning regarding alleged financial malfeasance. They were released on bail the following day.

Sarpong was interrogated about the alleged transfer of GH¢435,087 from PURC funds into his accounts, while Jantuah was questioned about her reported use of GH¢120,000 in PURC funds to purchase 350 Christmas hampers.

In the aftermath of this incident, Jantuah tendered her resignation letter on the evening of Tuesday, May 16, effective November 2017, marking her departure from the PURC.

In an interview on Face to Face on Channel One TV, Nana Yaa Jantuah recounted her traumatic experience, stating that she was stripped naked and left with only a gap to wear.
She also revealed that her chairman’s advice to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, urging him not to let her go due to her valuable contributions to the country, was regrettably ignored, a decision she believes was a grave mistake.

“I remember when all the issues were going on, they took me to BNI and all manner of places, Economic and Organised Crime Office, Criminal Investigations Department, everywhere to investigate me.

And my chairman told Dr Mahamudu Bawumia that don’t do this to this girl. We have trained her in engineering, we have trained her in tariffs, if you let her go. You’re throwing away an asset.

“I’m pleading with you, don’t let her go, because if she goes, this sector is going to suffer. I was almost like an anchor, I call this person, that person, whenever there was an issue. I mean I wanted everybody to be alright.

“…I think one day I got up and said what is actually going on? They took me to BNI, stripped me naked, put me in a cell, put handcuffs on me,” he told host Umaru Sanda Amadu.

Nana Yaa Jantuah shared that she has recently sought divine guidance to forgive those responsible for her arrest and the subsequent trauma she endured.”

“Thursday, I went to church and was praying to God to help me to forgive.

Because it just flashed into my mind and I remembered how a lady said what is the colour of your of hair, eyes, remove everything and then they put a gap on me and sent me to the cell. I asked myself, is that how Ghana thanks you when you leave everything, and you serve your people? she asked.

When asked the number of days she spent at the cells, she said, “I think I stayed there for two days. They made sure I was there alone…”

“I was in a wheelchair, I was admitted, nothing was working in my body, I had an infection, bacteria reddened my body.

They gave me an old mattress in the cell. I picked the bacteria from there, very stubborn bacteria…Everybody thought I was gone but I survived it.”

“I reported to BNI for three years, it’s like you have been incarcerated.”

Source: Citinewsroom

The confirmation comes following a private meeting between Afenyo-Markin and Dr Bawumia on Friday, June 28, held at the Vice President’s residence.

The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has confirmed that the majority caucus fully supports Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s decision to select Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh as his running mate for the upcoming December elections.

The discussion centred on Dr Bawumia’s choice of a running mate and its implications for their electoral strategy.

In an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, Afenyo-Markin emphasised the caucus’s unanimous endorsement of Dr Bawumia’s selection.

He noted that after Dr Bawumia informed the caucus of his decision, extensive consultations were held, leading to overwhelming support for the chosen candidate.
Mr Afenyo-Markin highlighted the confidence within the majority caucus regarding Dr Opoku Prempeh’s capabilities and contributions, indicating a unified stance as they prepare for the upcoming political contest.

“Yes, the leader of our party and flagbearer met with the leadership of Parliament and had an extensive engagement with us, regarding the way forward for the party going into the 2024 elections.

“And then, the conclusion was that our respected colleague, Dr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh, is his choice for running mate. And that is normally the practice, and out of respect, the caucus would have to be informed and engaged about the decision.”

“After, I proceeded and engaged the caucus, and so far, the feedback has been positive. That the generality of the caucus members is in support of his choice. What is it is that for it to become official or confirmed, there’s going to be a national council meeting,” he stated.

Source: myjoyonline.com