Petition Filled for Removal of GMA President over Unilateral Strike Decision.

 A petition has been filed calling for the removal of Dr. Frank Serebour, the President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), due to his unilateral decision regarding a nationwide strike organized by Organised Labour. The strike, scheduled for October 10, 2024, aimed to protest illegal mining activities, but Dr. Serebour instructed GMA members to continue working. This directive was issued without consulting the GMA's National Executive Council or General Assembly, which some members, including Dr. Vishnu Abayateye, argue violates the association's constitution.

The petition accuses Dr. Serebour of damaging the GMA's reputation and creating public confusion, particularly given the GMA’s strong previous stance against illegal mining. Dr. Abayateye plans to bring a motion for Dr. Serebour's removal at the upcoming GMA General Assembly in November 2024, where a two-thirds majority vote will be required to pass the motion

The petition for Dr. Frank Serebour's removal stems from dissatisfaction within the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) over his handling of a national strike planned by Organised Labour. The strike was set to protest against illegal mining (galamsey), a cause that the GMA had previously supported. However, Dr. Serebour issued a directive instructing GMA members to continue working, effectively distancing the association from the strike without consulting the proper governing bodies, such as the National Executive Council or General Assembly.

This decision has led to accusations that Dr. Serebour acted unilaterally, violating Article 16 of the GMA's constitution, which requires major decisions to be made through broader consultation. Critics, including Dr. Vishnu Abayateye, argue that this has damaged the association's credibility, particularly because it contradicts GMA's prior advocacy for action against illegal mining. The inconsistency in the GMA’s public stance on such critical national issues has created confusion among both the public and GMA members.

Dr. Abayateye, who filed the petition, intends to formally call for Dr. Serebour’s removal at the GMA’s Annual General Assembly in November 2024, where he aims to gather the required two-thirds majority vote to support his motion. This internal dispute within the GMA highlights broader tensions about leadership decisions and organizational transparency in relation to national labor movements..