Ghana’s government will incorporate three critical allowances into the mid-year budget following negotiations with the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
The agreement, reached on July 15, 2025, with the Fair Wages and Salary Commission, covers book and research, uniform, and fuel allowances. GRNMA leadership confirmed these allowances are slated for inclusion in the budget presentation scheduled for July 24, 2025.
Meanwhile, the implementation of an 8% non-basic allowance has been suspended. Association President Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo explained this pause resulted from significant computational discrepancies identified during the talks. “The employer was emphatic that there were serious distortions which has affected the market premium of nurses and midwives and that they will take urgent steps to rectify same,” Ofori-Ampofo stated during a July 16 press briefing in Accra.
Specific details regarding the fuel allowance were clarified. Ofori-Ampofo confirmed eligible staff will receive this allowance, but strictly at a government-approved rate, not the 10.99 or ex-pump rates previously referenced in the collective agreement. She further indicated that all other items listed in Appendix B of the collective agreement require costing and inclusion in the 2026 national budget.
The agreement also addresses professional licensing requirements. Official statements confirmed the employer will instruct relevant agencies to ensure nurses and midwives accumulate necessary Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits. The goal is for all practitioners to be duly licensed by December 2025, enabling legal practice commencement by January 1, 2026. Additionally, provisions for professional development, pin renewals, the 13th-month allowance, and medical benefits remain active per the collective agreement.
While welcoming the progress, the GRNMA leadership stated plans for a second strike action are currently on hold. The association emphasized its commitment to vigilantly monitoring the government’s implementation of the agreed terms to ensure full compliance.