Accra, Oct 12, GNA - The Forum for Governance and Justice (FGJ) on Wednesday appealed to the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to bring an immediate end to its current strike action on compassionate and humanitaria= n grounds.

The FGJ further asked civil society, human rights and religious organisations such as the Christian Council, the Coalition of Muslim Organisations 96 Ghana, the Ghana Human Rights NGO Forum and like-minded social justice organisations to persuade the GMA to end the strike action. A statement signed in Accra by Dr. Clement A. Apaak Convener, Forum for Governance and Justice 96 Ghana, said the leadership o= f the GMA could prevent further loss of lives, further suffering and further pain by ending the strike action and returning to the negotiation table. "We make this call because we believe that access to healthcare is a human right as is the right to life. Indeed, the Preamble to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) constitution declares that it is one of the fundamental rights of every human being to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health". The statement noted that by calling on its members to lay down their tools, the GMA had caused its members to violate the fundamental right of the good people of Ghana as well as sections of the Labour Act prohibiting strike or lockout in respect of essential services. "As an organisation that seeks to promote respect for human rights, justice and equality, we believe that our doctors have an obligation to sav= e lives. We pray they return to doing so and hope they will do so at all times.