Dr. Vishnu Nene Limon Abayateye, a member of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has formally submitted a petition seeking the removal of the Association’s President, Dr. Frank Serebour. The petition comes in response to Dr. Serebour’s directive urging GMA members to continue working despite Organised Labour’s planned nationwide strike on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
The petition, dated October 8 and addressed to the General Secretary of the GMA, outlines several serious allegations against Dr. Serebour. Chief among them is the accusation that Dr. Serebour issued a public statement on behalf of the GMA without first consulting the National Executive Council or the General Assembly. Dr. Abayateye argues that this unilateral action has damaged the reputation of the GMA, making the association appear inconsistent in the eyes of the public, particularly given its previous stance on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Organised Labour’s strike is aimed at pressuring the government to take decisive action against illegal mining, which has been linked to widespread environmental degradation and pollution of water bodies across the country. Despite widespread support for the strike from various sectors, Dr. Serebour’s decision to distance the GMA from the action has been met with internal dissent, culminating in Dr. Abayateye’s petition.
In his petition, Dr. Abayateye asserts that Dr. Serebour’s decision has caused confusion among members of the GMA and has undermined the Association’s credibility. The petition further claims that Dr. Serebour’s actions have created divisions within the Association, as some members feel that their voices and opinions have been disregarded in matters of national importance. Dr. Abayateye believes that the President’s lack of consultation with the broader membership before issuing such a directive is a breach of the GMA’s principles of transparency and collective decision-making.
Dr. Abayateye also stated his intention to move a motion for the removal of Dr. Serebour at the GMA’s upcoming annual general assembly, which is scheduled to take place in Ho from November 3 to November 10, 2024. He is seeking to secure the necessary two-thirds majority from the general assembly to carry the motion and oust the current president. According to GMA bylaws, such a majority is required to remove a sitting president, meaning that Dr. Abayateye will need significant support from his fellow members if he is to succeed in his bid to unseat Dr. Serebour.
The GMA annual general assembly is expected to draw members from across the country, and the issue of Dr. Serebour’s leadership will likely dominate discussions. Many members are already expressing differing opinions on the matter, with some supporting Dr. Serebour’s directive to prioritize patient care during the strike, while others share Dr. Abayateye’s concerns about the lack of consultation and the potential harm to the Association’s reputation.
Dr. Serebour’s leadership of the GMA has been marked by several significant challenges, including navigating the Association through the ongoing national debates over illegal mining and its impact on public health and the environment. The GMA has previously expressed concerns about the health risks posed by illegal mining activities, particularly the contamination of water sources with harmful chemicals such as mercury and cyanide. Many members feel that the Association should be actively supporting efforts to combat illegal mining, and Dr. Serebour’s decision to distance the GMA from the strike has led to frustration among those who believe that the Association should be playing a more prominent role in national advocacy on this issue.
Dr. Abayateye’s petition reflects a broader dissatisfaction within the GMA regarding how key decisions are made and communicated to members. Several members have privately expressed concerns about a perceived lack of engagement from the leadership, with some questioning whether the Association is truly representing the interests of its membership. The upcoming general assembly in Ho is expected to provide a platform for these concerns to be aired and debated, with the potential for significant changes in the Association’s leadership depending on the outcome of the motion.
As the date of the annual general assembly approaches, both Dr. Abayateye and Dr. Serebour are likely to engage in discussions with other members in an attempt to sway opinion in their favor. Dr. Abayateye will need to convince a substantial portion of the GMA membership that Dr. Serebour’s removal is necessary to restore the Association’s credibility and ensure that its decisions are made collectively. For his part, Dr. Serebour will likely argue that his directive was made in the best interests of patients and that the GMA’s leadership must remain focused on providing essential healthcare services, even in the face of national industrial action.
The petition and the upcoming motion for removal have thrown the GMA into a period of internal reflection and debate about its role in national advocacy and how its leadership should navigate complex issues like illegal mining and industrial strikes. Whatever the outcome of the general assembly in November, it is clear that the GMA’s members are seeking greater transparency and engagement from their leadership, as they continue to grapple with the ongoing challenges facing the healthcare sector in Ghana.
