The strike action that was embarked upon by health workers appeared to be the hottest topic within the electronic media in the course of this week.

All the radio and TV stations discussed it and passed various comments on the strike. And the general public, ie radio listeners played an active part in the discussion, by telephone.

Over the past few years, there have been several strike actions by doctors and health workers. And so why has this particular one attracted so much attention, you might ask? Well, judging from the tone of the radio and TV discussions, it was obvious that Ghanaians, generally, have become some- what fed up with the frequency and regularity of strikes by doctors and health workers.

The feeling is that because health workers know that whenever they embark on strike the government shows extra concern in order to minimise the number of deaths in hospitals, the workers and doctors feel encouraged to barter with the lives of patients, for more money.

And clearly, from the tone of discussions on radio and TV, it was obvious that a lot of Ghanaians feel peeved and angry about this behaviour of doctors and health workers. It is almost tantamount to blackmail, they say.

Imagine what would happen if the VRA, ECG, GWSC and the Police also behaved like doctors and went on strike?

Most Ghanaians who called in to the radio stations had no kind words for the health workers. They said they were fed up with the frequency of strikes by that section of the Ghanaian population who have gotten it into their heads that they are more important than any other workers.

One caller described them as ‘selfish’ while another referred to them as "the NPP government’s pampered group of workers." Other callers were full of praise for the health workers at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi who have shown concern for the sick and dying in Kumasi by refusing to join the strike, even though they are also aggrieved.

The government spokesman on social affairs, Mr. Kofi Amponsah Bediako, was on a number of radio stations on Tuesday 8/5/07 to condemn the strike action as unfair and quite uncalled for, since they have not exhausted all the normal channels of dispute resolution. But the representative of the striking workers, Mr. Abu Kuntu, was also on the same programme to try and justify the strike.

One caller was particularly worried about the attitude of Major Courage Quashigah whenever there is a crisis within the health sector. His point was that the minister is a highly respected personality, and perhaps if he could throw in a word once a while, it could work magic.

About a fortnight ago when about 85 newly qualified doctors who were to start their housemanship at Korle Bu refused to do so unless certain demands were met, he said nothing openly.

When Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng surprised most Ghanaians by courageously sacking all the striking doctors, the Minister said nothing openly. And when the 85 doctors later apologised and decided to do the houseman-ship, again the Minister said nothing openly.

And for more than a week now, health workers have been on strike, and the Minister has said nothing openly. This is not the best, and he must make Ghanaians feel his presence during such crisis situations.

As for the National Labour Commission, the least said about them the better. Perhaps one would be justified in likening them to a toothless bull-dog. When an official from the Commission was contacted by a radio station on 8/5/07 to tell the public what they are doing about these rampant strikes, all he could tell Ghanaians was that the commission has appealed to the workers and their employers to sit down and resolve their differences. If that is all that they can do, then their hands should either be strengthened or, as one caller suggested, the Commission should be scrapped and the money saved thereby be used for something that would benefit the society better.

And what are we hearing from Kumasi? KMA Boss, Ms Patricia Appiagyei, successfully completed phase I of the Kumasi decongestion exercise a couple of weeks back, and reports from Kumasi FM stations indicate that phase II has also started in earnest. Reports say that the traders who will be affected by the second phase, have something new to offer Kumasi city dwellers and Ghanaians as a whole.

What is it? Well, according to a report from Sampson Nyamekye of Hello FM, the traders (male and female) have threatened to strip themselves naked and go on a protest demonstration through the principal streets of Kumasi (oh where is my video camera), unless the KMA promises to give all of them a new and suitable place to sell their wares.

When the Minister for Local Government, Mr. Asamoah Boateng was informed about the threat from Kumasi traders, he was not amused at all. Let me summarise all that he said in just a sentence. He said the right things must be done irrespective of threats and blackmail. Meanwhile, I am getting my video camera ready for the Kumasi show. I’ll be back.