Government, physician sign landmark agreement

The government has finalised conditions of Service agreement with the Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA) aimed at improving working conditions and benefits for Physician Assistants nationwide.

The agreement, signed after months of negotiations, addresses long-standing concerns.

The Government team, comprising representatives of the Ministry of Health, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and Ghana Health Service, worked with PAAG’s National President, Peter Akudugi Ayamba, and executive members to reach the mutually-beneficial agreement.

Speaking on behalf of the government, after the final meeting and signing of the agreement in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Ben Arthur,  commended both parties for their cooperation and acknowleged the critical role Physician Assistants played in Ghana’s healthcare delivery system.

He also praised the GPAA for its commitment and mastery of labour relations.

GPAA President, Mr Ayamba, expressed satisfaction with the agreement, calling it a significant milestone in improving working conditions and benefits.

He urged the government to ensure its implementation, adding that more work needed to be done.

A labour consultant, Saeed Musah-Khaleepha, described the negotiations as “a long journey and significant step forward.”

He expressed appreciation for the  the Commission’s leadership and professionalism exhibited in the course of the negotiations and said he looked forward to continued collaboration.

In another development,  a delegation from The Gambia’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment has paid a working visit to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to tap Ghana’s experience in managing public employment programmes and employment tracking systems.

The Gambian delegation, led by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dampha Lamin, sought to acquire knowledge and the needed skills to enhance their country’s labour sector.

Welcoming the delegation, the Chief Executive of FWSC, Ing. Benjamin Arthur, shared insights into the Commission’s operations, mandate, and achievements.

Key topics discussed at the meeting included the Salary Administration regimes, Single Spine Salary Pay Policy, performance management in the public service, the activities of the technical directorates of the Commission and major achievements of the FWSC in 2023.

Highlighting some of the achievements of the FWSC for last year, Ing Arthur said the Commission developed a blueprint on linking pay to performance and productivity in the public sector, monitoring 119 public service organisations to sanitise government payroll system and to ensure compliance with the Single Spine Pay Policy. He added that the Commission engaged 450 stakeholders on harmonisation of salary administration to ensure sustainable wage bills and 35 public service organisations on linking pay to performance and productivity.

The delegation indicated that The Gambia was ready to learn from Ghana’s labour management expertise, acknowledging some of the major transformations in addressing labour issues in the country, which have positively impacted industrial relations.

Mr Lamin highlighted the historical relationship between Ghana and The Gambia, explaining that the visit underscored the growing collaboration between Ghana and The Gambia in labour-sector development.