Doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have declared a strike action with effect from Wednesday, March 13.
The decision is to register their discontentment with an imminent eviction they face from their current official residence at Danyame, a suburb of Kumasi.
The land has been ceded to the Asantehene on behalf of and in trust for the subjects of the Golden Stool. The revested land contains state bungalows to be relocated to the area retained by government.
But the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council’s handling of the relocation process appears to have angered the doctors.
Some doctors occupying the bungalows are not happy with the continuous eviction threats they receive from private developers when they (occupants) are yet to be relocated.
“The eviction threat has been ongoing for about a year now. Some doctors have recently been given notice to evict their accommodation units within a week. Some have had their water supply and electricity cut off just to force them out when alternative arrangements have not been made. It’s quite worrying because the affected doctors are not getting the right frame of mind to work”, Dr Michael Leat, Chairman of KATH Doctors’ Association.
Fed up with the ceaseless eviction warning, members of the Association have resolved to lay down their tools and go search for accommodation.
“We know the lands have been given out to a private developer, but all we’ve been asking for is to relocate us. Not all doctors at KATH are affected but as an association we’ve unanimously agreed to lay down our tools tomorrow (Wednesday) by 6am and go look for accommodation”, Dr Leat told the media after an emergency meeting by the Association.
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.
But the doctors say they’ve not been communicated with, on the relocation arrangements.
This, they say, has compelled them to decide to abandon duty post and go search for accommodation.
“We are thereby notifying Management of our collective decision to be absent from work in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital from Wednesday, March 13 till this matter is completely resolved”, Dr Leat stated.
