Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has urged the striking nurses to return to their duties.
He emphasized that meaningful discussions cannot take place while the nurses are still on strike.
“To all health workers, I am your strongest advocate, and I will keep fighting for your interests. However, we need to return to our health facilities; productive dialogue is impossible while you remain on strike,” he stated on 3FM on Wednesday, June 11.
The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) initiated a nationwide strike due to the government’s failure to implement the 2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement that was signed a year prior.
The protest began with nurses wearing red armbands and headbands from June 2 to 3, followed by the suspension of Outpatient Department (OPD) services from June 4 to 8, 2025.
The National Labour Commission (NLC) obtained an injunction after deeming the strike illegal and has instructed the GRNMA to engage in negotiations with the Ministry of Health.
On May 28, 2025, over 128,000 nurses and midwives across Ghana declared a nationwide strike due to the government’s ongoing delay in implementing their new service conditions, which were agreed upon in 2024 under the Akufo-Addo administration.
The GRNMA has stated that they will only return to work if their new service conditions are put into effect.
In the meantime, some stakeholders have urged the nurses to go back to work. For example, Economic Management Strategist Winfred Kinsley Afful pointed out that lives are at risk, highlighting the urgency of resolving the issues swiftly.
In a brief statement, Mr. Afful remarked, “We recognize the vital role nurses play in healthcare delivery; they may have valid concerns, but I urge them to return to work while the government addresses these issues.”
Source: HotFmOnline.com
Do you have a story to share? Send it to our editorial team at editor@hotfmonline.com
