The Ministry of Health has pleaded with the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) to forfeit their planned nationwide strike.
Speaking in an interview on Okay FM, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Isaac Offei Baah claimed that the ministry has not turned deaf ears to their pressing needs or complain.
According to him, the Ministry of Health has already addressed some of the concerns raised by the mortuary workers, however, they intend to meet with their agents and address the issues.
The PRO pleaded with the mortuary attenders to cancel the planned strike and do well to attend the schedule meeting in order for them to talk things over.
Halt plans to embark on strike – Ministry of Health pleads with mortuary workers#UTVNews pic.twitter.com/jqh6qP5BNG
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) November 27, 2023
The MOWAG has scheduled to start a nationwide strike on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, and last until their issues are resolved. The notice was served on Monday.
The association has sent letters of intent to take industrial action to the following ministries: National Security, Finance, Employment and Labor Relations, Health, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and National Labour Commission.
In a letter dated Monday, November 20, and signed by its General Secretary, Richard Kofi Jordan, MOWAG stated that “all avenues to resolve our grievances have proven futile,” which is why they have decided to lay down their tools. The letter was addressed to the institutions mentioned above.
MOWAG further stated that the decision was made at a general meeting of its members and complies with the constitution’s Section 159 of Act 651(2003).
“Our position is that all mortuary workers in Ghana shall lay down their tools starting on Wednesday, 29th November, 2023, until all matters already in your domain are resolved. This is in exercise of our rights as the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana stipulates,” MOWAG’s letter read in part.
Meanwhile, Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie has supported the mortuary attenders decision to embark on an indefinite strike.
He states that he is sensitive to the suffering of the employees since they are the most “underrated and underpaid”.
