A formal petition has been filed by a member of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Vishnu Nene Limon Abayateye, calling for the removal of the association’s president, Dr. Frank Serebour.
This follows Dr. Serebour’s directive for GMA members to continue working despite a nationwide strike by Organized Labour set for October 10, 2024, in protest against illegal mining.
In the petition, which is set to be addressed at the GMA’s annual general assembly meeting in Ho in November, Dr. Abayateye criticized Dr. Serebour for allegedly acting unilaterally in issuing a statement that the GMA would not participate in the strike, without consulting the National Executive Council or the general assembly.
“This is in obvious contravention of article 16 of the GMA constitution,” Dr. Abayateye wrote, emphasizing that the president’s actions were not representative of the broader membership’s views.
Dr. Abayateye also argued that Dr. Serebour’s stance has brought the association into disrepute.
“The announcement made the association appear duplicitous in the eyes of well-meaning Ghanaians, especially given our previous positions on the health and environmental effects of illegal mining,” he stated in the October 8 petition, adding that GMA’s reputation had been compromised.
The petition, submitted under article 23 of the GMA constitution, seeks to gather the necessary two-thirds support from the general assembly to proceed with Dr. Serebour’s removal.
Dr. Abayateye has urged that the issue be placed on the agenda for the annual meeting and notified to all members and officers involved.
The petition has sparked internal debate within the GMA, with many members now considering whether Dr. Serebour’s directive aligns with the association’s broader mission, particularly its stance on environmental health.
The upcoming meeting in November is expected to draw significant attention as the fate of the GMA presidency hangs in the balance.
The GMA has yet to respond to the petition or make an official statement on the matter.