Our agreed-upon conditions must be implemented now, not in 2026 – GRNMA
The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) remains steadfast in its demand for the government to begin implementing their negotiated conditions of service within the current year. The union has rejected the government's proposal to delay execution until 2026, a postponement officials claim is necessary because the agreement was not included in the 2025 national budget.GRNMA leadership argues that this justification is not acceptable, particularly given that prior to the 2025 budget presentation, the Minister of Health had given explicit assurances that the agreed-upon conditions would be taken into account. The union contends that the government's failure to honour these commitments has left them with no choice but to strike.
A meeting held on Monday, June 9, between union representatives and government officials failed to yield any breakthroughs. In response, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh addressed the press at a joint news conference with the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, June 10. He acknowledged the seriousness of the nurses' concerns but insisted that implementing their demands this year would significantly disrupt the government’s financial planning and budgetary framework. He urged the nurses to return to the negotiating table for further discussions, stressing the risk posed to public health by the ongoing strike.To address the current gap in healthcare delivery, Minister Akandoh announced interim measures. These include providing the public with a list of additional healthcare facilities they can access during the strike period. Furthermore, the government is looking to temporarily recruit retired nurses and midwives to help keep essential services running.
Meanwhile, GRNMA’s General Secretary, David Tekorang, speaking on JoyNews, strongly reiterated the union's position. He emphasized that they are not seeking a fresh round of negotiations, but rather an immediate plan to start implementing the agreement — even if it has to be rolled out gradually. He expressed frustration over the proposed delay, calling it unjust and unacceptable, especially in light of the assurances the union had received prior to the budget planning cycle.
The background to this standoff dates back to May 2024, when the government and the GRNMA reached and signed a new Conditions of Service agreement. Implementation was supposed to begin in July 2024. However, complications arose when a dissident faction within the nursing sector sought legal action to block the agreement. They argued that the deal did not adequately represent their interests and claimed they had not been involved in the discussions. This legal challenge delayed the rollout of the agreement until the matter was resolved in January 2025, coinciding with a change in government leadership.
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Since then, GRNMA representatives claim to have engaged in numerous follow-up meetings with government officials. They insist they were assured that their concerns had been addressed and that provisions for the agreement’s implementation were being made. These assurances, they say, make the current excuse about the 2025 budget’s limitations even more disappointing.
The strike, which began on June 3, 2025, is a result of prolonged frustration over stalled negotiations regarding salaries, allowances, risk benefits, and support for rural postings. The union argues that nurses and midwives are facing stagnant incomes amid rising living costs and inflation.
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The nationwide industrial action has left hospitals and clinics with only skeletal staff. Although emergency services are still being provided, many patients in public health facilities are facing significant delays or cancellations in receiving care. The Ministry of Health has reiterated its openness to dialogue, but has yet to offer any new financial roadmap that could meet the union's demands without breaching fiscal limits.
For now, the GRNMA has made it clear: the strike will continue until there is a concrete and immediate commitment from the government to begin implementation of the agreed terms.