The Greater Accra Deputy Regional Chair of the Emergency Medical Technologists Association of Ghana (EMTAG), Edward Kofi Agbemafle, has called on the government and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to address the conditions of services for members of the Association.
Mr Agbemafle revealed that there are seeming disparities within the salary structure of members which needs to be resolved swiftly. He noted that there are equally some outstanding arrears owed Emergency Medical Technologists (EMTs), with some dating back to December 2021, which has to be paid.
“Talking of condition of service for the EMTs, you realize the single spine salary structure was brought in place… For instance with the health sector, we EMTs are part of the health sector, although you realize it’s a single spine that’s supposed to ensure that each category is pegged at a level; you realize that when it comes to EMTs, there are disparities… This is why we are calling on the CEO of Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and all stakeholders to realign EMTs to be at par with our counterparts on the single spine salary structure.”
Edward Kofi Agbemafle
Elaborating on the conditions of service, Mr Agbemafle opined that the condition of service for EMTs has been signed but it is not being implemented. He indicated that this is because when it comes to the national ambulance service, it does not have an internally generated fund.
“… And per the MOU that was signed, the agencies are supposed to provide these allowances, which of course the national ambulance service is not having. So, what we are calling for is that we are pleading [with] the minister and the government to resource national ambulance service so that they will be in the position to provide us with these allowances which has been accrued on paper and in principle but in reality, we EMTs are not enjoying…”
Edward Kofi Agbemafle
Attack on ambulance workers
Commenting on the growing attacks of ambulance workers in the country which recently took the life of an EMT, Mr Agbemafle called for police escorts to accompany ambulances during emergencies. This, he explained, will provide some form of security to personnel and help safeguard both lives and properties.
“We are hopeful that if we should be given the escort as our President alluded to the other time, you realize that usually when we are responding to issues with regards to unstable environments, for instance armed robbers who have been shot and we are needed to respond, you realize that when you have these escorts with us, at least to some extent, we will realize that our peace [and] the security of our members is assured. In that, should their colleagues attack the vehicle, we know that the police are on the scene to respond.”
Edward Kofi Agbemafle
On his part, the Greater Accra Deputy Regional Public Relations Officer of the Emergency Medical Technicians Association of Ghana (EMTAG), Issah Kpambey Seebaway, revealed that following engagement with the media on the killing of the EMT personnel in the line of duty, not much has been done, insisting it is early days yet. He noted that the attacks on EMT personnel ought to be critically dealt with.
“So far, nothing has changed. Probably because that was held on Monday so we are looking forward with the hopes that things will change because we organised that press conference because we wanted a change. It’s very bad… The major incidences we tabled was about thirteen, with the recent one being the Zibila ambulance attack. It’s been very rampant. If you check on our records, within 2021 to 2022, you’ll see that it is increasing. So, in fact, it’s a concern.”
Issah Kpambey Seebaway
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