The Ministry of Health has called on the leadership of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to reverse its decision to embark on a planned industrial action, citing ongoing engagements and the potential danger to patient care across the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, May 28, the Ministry expressed shock and disappointment over the GRNMA’s press conference, where the association directed its members to commence a series of strikes over the delayed implementation of their Conditions of Service.
The Ministry of Health acknowledged that although the revised Conditions of Service were scheduled to take effect in 2024 under the previous administration, their implementation had unfortunately been delayed.
To address this, the Ministry explained that both parties had, during earlier engagements, agreed to establish a joint committee made up of representatives from the GRNMA, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Finance to fast-track the process.
Reflecting on past efforts, the Ministry recalled a significant milestone achieved in 2015 under the past leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, when the first-ever structured Conditions of Service for health workers were introduced.
It emphasised that the current administration is committed to building on this legacy by ensuring continued improvements in the welfare of nurses and other health professionals.
However, the Ministry strongly condemned the use of patient care as a bargaining chip in the dispute, stating, “Using the lives of patients as leverage in the demand for the implementation of a collective bargaining agreement is not the appropriate course of action.”
The Ministry further urged the GRNMA leadership to reciprocate, prioritising dialogue over disruption. “We appeal to the association to place the interest of the Ghanaian patient above all else and return to the negotiation table for the benefit of the health sector,” the statement concluded