Pantang hospital staff call off strike as gov't reaches consensus with land encroachers.

Staff of the Pantang psychiatric hospital who have been on strike since Monday to protest the encroachment of the facility's lands by private developers are to resume work on Thursday.

Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu, says the staff have agreed to end their sit down strike while government engages the private developers to settle the impasse.

The Minister today visited the hospital following a demonstration by the workers who served notice when they began their strike on Monday, that they will hit the streets if no concrete steps are taken to address their concerns by Wednesday. Patients seeking medical treatment have been turned away since Monday, some from other regions of the country. 

The staff were adamant their concerns must be addressed before they call off the strike

Read also: Pantang psychiatric hospital staff embark on sit down strike

Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority Dr. Akwasi Osei on Monday acccused a court in Accra of  prioritizing monetary gains at the expense of the health of patients at the Pantang psychiatric hospital. The court, after five years of litigation, ruled against the hospital and in favor of private developers who have already began building very close to the hospital, one residential facility under construction shares wall with the mortuary.

The CEO continued that numerous efforts to get the government to make an intervention have yielded no results, leaving the staff with no other option than to embark on the industrial action in the interest of the hospital. He rubbished criticisms that the staff have no locus to interfere in the land dispute, saying it is their patriotic duty to ensure the Pantang hospital is protected for the future generation.

Speaking to the media after a meeting with the staff, the Health Minister said a consensus has been reached with the private developers who have legitimate title to the land and he would with immediate effect halt all activities in the area. Government is considering the acquisition of the land, one of the key demands of the staff, who maintain it will be in the interest of the hospital. 

The Health Minister and his entourage assured the workers government would act swifty to address the situation.