Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has raised red flags over what he describes as government inertia in addressing the pressing concerns of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), warning that failure to act could reignite industrial action.
Speaking during an interview on Channel One’s Newsroom, the visibly concerned MP lamented the continued silence from government officials despite Parliament’s Health Committee playing a key role in persuading the nurses to suspend their earlier strike threat.
“We used our goodwill and credibility to ask the nurses to hold on because we believed the issues would be resolved. But weeks later, nothing concrete has happened,” Mr. Acquah said.
He disclosed that efforts were made to summon the Minister of Health to Parliament this week to provide updates, but the matter remained unaddressed, further frustrating lawmakers working behind the scenes.
According to him, the Majority Leader informed Parliament that President John Mahama had called for a meeting involving both the Health and Finance Ministries to discuss the issue. However, he pointed to the Finance Ministry as the key stumbling block.
“What I am told is that the Finance Ministry is having some difficulty in coming to terms with their demands,” the MP revealed.
With the July deadline issued by the GRNMA fast approaching, Mr. Acquah expressed fear that the government’s inaction could result in a breakdown of trust and renewed disruptions in the health sector.
He noted that members of the Minority on the Health Committee are beginning to distance themselves from the process, citing a loss of credibility due to the government’s failure to deliver.
“We can’t continue leading negotiations that end in silence. It’s affecting our integrity as lawmakers and hurting our ability to mediate,” he stressed.
The GRNMA had earlier suspended planned industrial action after receiving assurances from Parliament’s Health Committee that their concerns—believed to center on improved conditions of service—would be addressed promptly.
With time running out and pressure mounting, it remains to be seen whether the government can resolve the impasse and avert a potential crisis in the country’s healthcare delivery.
