The Ministry of Health has issued a strong appeal to the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), urging them to call off their planned industrial action and return to the negotiating table, warning that the strike poses a serious threat to patient care across the country.
Describing the decision as “shocking and disappointing,” the Ministry said it was blindsided by the Association’s directive despite what it termed “numerous engagements” with Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. The Ministry maintains that both parties had recently agreed to establish a Tripartite Committee—involving the Ministries of Health and Finance, and the GRNMA—to address concerns surrounding delays in implementing the revised Conditions of Service for nurses and midwives.
In a statement signed by spokesperson Tony Goodman, the Ministry reminded the public of past government efforts to support healthcare workers, including the 2015 landmark introduction of the first Conditions of Service for nurses under former President John Mahama.
“The Ministry has shown commitment through open dialogue and goodwill. This abrupt decision to strike undermines that progress and puts patients at risk,” the statement warned.
While acknowledging the grievances of the Association, the Ministry stressed that industrial action should be a last resort, not a tool to pressure ongoing discussions. It called on the GRNMA to demonstrate similar goodwill by suspending the strike and working collaboratively through the agreed framework to reach a sustainable resolution.
The GRNMA’s decision comes amid growing frustration over delayed implementation of improved conditions, originally scheduled to take effect in 2024 under the previous administration. However, the Ministry insists that efforts are underway to resolve the matter fairly through the Tripartite Committee.
As the nation faces the risk of disrupted healthcare services, the Ministry’s call underscores the fragile balance between labour rights and essential service delivery, with public health hanging in the balance.
