KATH Doctors On Strike …Over Accommodation Wahala

DOCTORS AT the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, have from today, Wednesday, started a strike action.

According to Dr. Michael Leat, the Chairman of the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association, the strike action is in solidarity with 20 members of the association.

He explained that the 20 doctors have been given a one-week eviction notice to leave their homes at Denyame, a plush-looking residential neighbourhood in Kumasi.

Dr. Michael Leat stated that the one-week eviction notice is inhumane and it’s meant to make life unbearable for the affected doctors, hence the indefinite industrial action.

The doctors, he said, took their decision after an emergency meeting in Kumasi on Tuesday, noting that they have even sent a notice of absent letter to KATH management.

Notice of absent letter

“At our emergency meeting on Tuesday, 12/03/24 members resolved the following. It is scandalous to even consider the eviction of doctors from their homes while alternate arrangements have not been made.

“The persistent threats to cut the electricity and water supply to the homes of doctors in order to forcefully push them out is inhumane and not acceptable in any sense.

“We are thereby notifying management of our collective decision to absent from work in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital from Wednesday 13.03.24 at 0600HRS till this matter is completely resolved.

“We encourage management as our employers to pursue all avenues to resolve this fiasco which is a never-event in any developed community”, the notice of absent letter seen by THE NEW PUBLISHER, read.

However, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah has said new apartments are being built for the affected doctors, saying the project is at an advanced stage of completion.

“It’s true portion of the state lands within Nhyiaeso and Danyame have been ceded to Manhyia and as a result, we have to relocate all government workers staying within the enclave and even some of those who are still within the government lands.

Construction of new apartments are at various levels of completion and all will be ready soon. So, whoever says he has been given one week to evacuate from his bungalow should produce the letter, because the agreement with the contractors is to rent a place for occupants for a period of 2-years before evicting them by which time we believe all the structures are ready,” he stated.