Doctors Doctoring Money: Dirges of Ghanaian Patient

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*By Akadu Ntiriwa Mensema, Ph. D.

“The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is embarking on a nationwide strike by close of
day October 7, if their demands are not met. The GMA resolved to lay down their
tools after an emergency national executive council meeting on Thursday… The GMA is
complaining about distortions in the grading structures of the Single Spine Pay
Structure, issues of unscientific determination of Market Premium and inducement by
the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission” (Ghanaweb, September 7, 2011)

Doctors of life
Doctoring money
Doctoring death
Everyday strike
To strike money
Yesterday strike
Today strike
Morning strike
Afternoon strike
Evening strike
Tenets on strike
Principles on strike
Codes on strike
Conscience on strike
Ethics on strike
Doctors on strike
To strike money

Ghanaian doctors
Doctoring money
Like all educated elites
Ah! Killers of the dream
Their elitist entitlements
Like Parliamentarians
Like Ministers
Like Pastors
Like Police
Like Customs
Elitist armed-robbers

Doctors on strike
Oh! Doctors
Strike for us all
For a better society
For poor patients
For sick street kids
For sick civil servants
For sick farmers
For sick fisher-folks
For “abortion” girls

Ghanaian doctors
Doctors on strike
Strike for us all
For poor patients
Patients on floors
That sleep on floors
In Korle Bu
In Ridge
In Tetteh Quarshie
In Okomfo Anokye
In Effia Nkwanta

Doctors on strike
Strike for us all
Strike for facilities
Strike for equipment
Strike for work ethics
Strike for punctuality
Strike for morality
Strike against hospital theft
Strike against malpractices
Strike against congestion
Strike against high fees

Ghanaian Doctors
Soar to the skies
Like the eagle
Ah! Power, grace
Respect, Wealth
Ghanaian doctors
In private practice
On government payrolls
In part-time jobs
They have it all
Maid-servants
Chauffeurs, cooks
Garden boys
Laundry boys
State bungalows
Free cars

Ghanaian doctors
Education of doctors
Educated by all
Educated for all
Paid for by farmers
By cocoa farmers
Noble farmers’ sweat
In the postcolony
Cocoa farmers are stoic
Farmers don’t go on strike

Doctors of life
Everyday strike
Tenets on strike
Principles on strike
Codes on strike
Conscience on strike
Ethics on strike
Norms on strike
Doctoring money
Doctoring death
Doctors on strike
To strike money

*Akadu N. Mensema, Ph. D., is a nationalist Denkyira beauty. She is a trained oral
historian cum sociologist and Professor in the USA. She lives in Pennsylvania with
her great mentor and teaches Africa-area studies at a college in Maryland. In her
pastime, she writes what critics have called “populist hyperbolic, satirical”
poetry. She can be reached at [email protected]