Within the next 10 days, nearly 128,000 nurses and midwives in Ghana plan to leave their jobs, citing the government’s ongoing failure to follow their agreed-upon terms of service.
The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) President, Perpetual Ofori Ampofo, voiced his intense unhappiness with the state of affairs during a news conference on May 28 in Accra.
“The collective agreement was signed between the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, on behalf of the entire nursing and midwifery workforce, and the government, represented by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission,” she stressed.
Madam Ofori Ampofo claims that although the agreement was signed more than a year ago, it hasn’t been put into action yet.
Although she recognized that a legal challenge launched by a portion of the Association’s membership contributed to some of the delay, she pointed out that the court’s decision was rendered in January 2025.
“Since then, we have made several follow-ups through official letters and personal visits to both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health, but we have seen no action,” she reiterated.
The President of the GRNMA declared that the Association will demand the agreement’s execution through a series of industrial actions beginning next week.
“This delay not only disrespects Ghanaian nurses and midwives but also threatens the quality of healthcare delivery across the country. We are the backbone of the health system, and despite the many challenges in our profession, we have consistently demonstrated unmatched dedication and commitment to patient care,” she added.
The following is the outline provided by Madam Ofori Ampofo for the proposed industrial actions:
• June 2–3, 2025: Nurses and midwives will wear red armbands and headbands in protest.
• June 4–8, 2025: Withdrawal of outpatient department (OPD) services.
• From June 9, 2025: Total withdrawal of all nursing and midwifery services nationwide.
She stressed that although the Association is still amenable to discussion, their key demand—the prompt execution of the collective bargaining agreement—cannot be compromised.
Source: newsthemegh.com