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

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

A bigwig of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Head of Running Mate’s Campaign, Alexander Percival Segbefia has stated that John Dramani Mahama, the presidential candidate for the NDC will win the 2024 elections with ease.

According to the former Minister of Health in the erstwhile Mahama administration, the achievements made by Mr. Mahama in just one term in office surpasses the two terms in office by Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia administration.

In an interview with Umaru Sanda on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Thursday, June 20, Mr. Segbefia stressed that the NDC is in a position to govern the country better than the NPP government, adding that, the NPP government has led the country into a deep ditch that needs the intervention of someone with a sterling leadership quality to savage.

He said, “…We have a case because there is a direct comparison now. We have a flag bearer who has been president before, has been Vice President before, you can compare his record as Vice President with the record of the current Vice President. You can compare his record as president with the current president.”

“He wins hands down. Take all the macroeconomic indicators, tell me in the last seven years add Kufuor’s years which hospital has ever been built by the NPP to write home about . . . not just health infrastructure.

We’ve done well in almost every structure or every portfolio that exists under this current government.

Meanwhile, Mr. Segbefia expressed utmost satisfaction with the composition of the campaign team ahead of the December 7 General elections, describing it as a strategic move to secure a rousing victory for the party.

The NDC’s Functional Executive Committee announced on June 19, 2024, the national campaign team which aims at preparing thoroughly for the December 7 general elections.

“ . . I think that strategically what we’ve done is good for us. We are happy with what we have done.”

“The meat will be put unto what is the bones and we are very conversant with how our campaign will run . . .we are very clear about our campaign, and we are happy with what we have put out.”

Source: Peacefmonline