Dr. Justice Yankson, Vice President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has criticized the government over its failure to uphold labor agreements. He described this trend as a major cause of recent strikes, including the nurses’ strike that disrupted healthcare services nationwide.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsfile, Dr. Yankson said the government must respect agreements it makes with professional bodies. “Once the government agrees on something with professional bodies, it should honor it,” he stated firmly.
Drawing from nearly 20 years of experience in labor negotiations, he explained that workers usually show patience for long periods. “Most workers give enough time, sometimes years, for the employer to act,” he said. “But nothing is done until they’re forced to strike.”
Dr. Yankson said the cycle of delay and reaction from government officials must end. He believes poor engagement between the government and labor unions is at the root of most industrial actions. “Many strikes happen because there’s inadequate engagement between the employer and labor,” he said.
He added that when workers finally take action, the government still delays coming to the table. “Often, it takes several days after a strike begins before leaders respond,” he explained. “Yet once talks start, the issues get resolved in a day or two.”
Dr. Yankson questioned this last-minute crisis management. “Why do we wait until things break down?” he asked. “If the solution comes so quickly, why not act earlier?”
He urged the government to engage labor unions seriously and early. Doing so, he said, will prevent strikes and keep vital public services running.
