Nurses threaten nationwide strike over delayed conditions of service

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has announced plans to embark on industrial action, citing frustration over the prolonged delay in implementing their revised Conditions of Service.

This development has sparked concerns across the health sector, prompting the Ministry of Health to issue an urgent appeal for the association to reconsider its decision and prioritize patient welfare.

In a statement on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, the Ministry expressed shock and disappointment at the GRNMA’s recent directive for its members to commence a series of strikes.

The association’s move comes amidst stalled negotiations concerning the Conditions of Service, which had been scheduled for implementation in 2024 but remain unfulfilled.

The Ministry of Health acknowledged the delay, explaining that the revised Conditions of Service were initially set to take effect under the previous government.

The delay, however, has led to mounting frustrations among nurses and midwives, who argue that the postponement has negatively affected their working conditions and remuneration.

To resolve the impasse, the Ministry disclosed that a joint committee was established following previous discussions.

This committee includes representatives from the GRNMA, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Finance, tasked with fast-tracking the implementation process.

Despite these efforts, tangible progress appears, leading to the association’s decision to go on strike.

The roots of the Conditions of Service trace back to a landmark achievement in 2015 during the administration of President John Dramani Mahama.

At that time, the government introduced the first-ever structured Conditions of Service aimed at improving the welfare of health professionals nationwide.

The current administration has reiterated its commitment to uphold and build on that legacy by ensuring continual enhancements to nurses’ and midwives’ working conditions.

Despite this commitment, the Ministry strongly condemned the GRNMA’s decision to use patient care as leverage in the ongoing dispute.

“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 said. It warned that any disruption to health services could endanger lives and urged the association to avoid actions that would compromise patient safety.

In closing, the Ministry appealed to the GRNMA leadership to return to the negotiation table, emphasizing dialogue as the only viable solution.

“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.