Former Member of Parliament for Offinso South and constitutional lawyer, Abdalla Bandah, has weighed in on the ongoing doctors’ strike at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), insisting that essential service workers must not resort to industrial action and urging the government to complete the Agenda 111 hospital project initiative.
Commenting on the dispute triggered by the suspension of KATH’s CEO on Kessben TV’s Digest show, Bandah stressed the critical role healthcare plays in national development.
“Development is the freedom that the citizens enjoy. Growth of every nation depends largely on education and healthcare,” he said.
According to him, access to quality healthcare infrastructure remains a key indicator of a developed nation.
“In every developed country, there are hospitals in every community to take care of its citizen.”
The former lawmaker also called on the government to complete the Agenda 111 nationwide hospital construction programme initiated by the previous administration.
“The government has the responsibility to continue the Agenda 111 started by the previous government,” he stated.
Bandah further proposed a new legal framework that would prevent governments from abandoning projects started by their predecessors.
“There should be legislation to compel successive governments to complete projects initiated by the previous government.”
He argued that expanding healthcare infrastructure is necessary to meet the needs of Ghana’s growing population and reduce pressure on existing hospitals.
“I believe it is essential that we expand our facilities as the population grows to avoid pressure on the existing hospitals.”
Addressing the ongoing strike action at KATH, Bandah maintained that the Labour Act places restrictions on industrial action by workers in essential services.
“Labour Act says essential workers are forbidden to go on strike.”
While acknowledging workers’ rights to raise concerns, he argued that public-sector employees should seek alternative means of resolving disputes.
“If you want to take the law black and white, every government worker has the duty to use appropriate means to register their grievances without embarking on strike action.”
His comments come as pressure mounts on authorities and health sector stakeholders to resolve the impasse at KATH, with concerns growing over the impact of the strike on patient care and hospital operations.
