The Ghana Physician Assistants Association has decided to temporarily suspend its indefinite strike, pending the outcome of a 28-day ultimatum given by the National Labour Commission to the Ministry of Health concerning their demands.

The strike was initiated to protest a proposed legislation that would subject physician assistants to supervision by the Medical and Dental Council, a move feared to disempower the members.

National President of the association, Peter Akuduge Ayamba, made it clear that if the ministry fails to address their concerns satisfactorily within the given time frame, they will resume their strike action.

“The National Labour Commission heard us and have directed that within 28 days they should engage us and report to them on how to address the concerns that we have raised. We are not happy as an association with the posture of the government and the fact that they have been dragging their legs all this while. It was because of that that’s why we are where we are now.”

“And we are saying that based on the ruling and the intervention of the labour commission and the fact that we are law-abiding citizens and unions for that matter, we are calling on our membership to resume work. Because we are temporarily calling off this strike so that we will explore all other options if by the deadline that has been given by the labour commission nothing is done,” he stated.

The National Labour Commission's intervention prompted the association to temporarily call off the strike and explore other options if necessary.

These options include going back to their strike action or adopting a work-to-rule policy, which entails strictly adhering to their prescribed duties without additional efforts.

The association remains vigilant and committed to protecting their interests, and they will reassess their stance based on the government's response to their demands after the 28-day period expires.

“So we are saying that we will explore all other interventions which include our non-renewal position that we took that with their intervention we had to come back. We are also exploring the possibility of working to rule policy which means that we will do according to what we are supposed to do, nothing more nothing less,” he said.