Doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) are set to begin an indefinite strike today, Wednesday, March 13, over accommodation concerns.
The leadership of the Association has stated that its members are facing eviction from their bungalows, which have allegedly been sold.
Dr. Paa Kwasi Baidoo, the Ashanti Regional President of the Ghana Medical Association, expressed dismay at the sudden displacement of hospital staff from their homes in an interview with Citi News.
He highlighted the agreement made with Manhyia Palace for new accommodations before the handover of the land. However, this agreement has allegedly been disregarded.
“You will notice that a lot of our staff live 15 to 20 minutes away from the hospital and all of a sudden, people will come and ask you to move from your place because it has been sold to them and we took that issue up and we met with Manhyia on it, and it was agreed that a new place be prepared to move us there before you can take possession of the land. They have disregarded that with impunity and so we are meeting this morning.”
“We will all leave the hospital to go and look for accommodation because we don’t have a place to sleep.”
Despite the Ashanti Regional Minister’s announcement of plans to relocate all government workers residing within a state lands enclave around Danyame and Nhyiaeso, the doctors insist they will proceed with the strike until an immediate solution is implemented.