As the Health Ministry is unable to come to an agreement with GRNMA, the nurses’ strike continues.
After a failed emergency meeting with the Ministry of Health on Monday, June 9, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has yet to end its statewide strike.
The GRNMA has flatly rejected the government’s desire to delay the implementation of the nurses’ conditions of service until 2026, which is the root of the impasse.
Following the private meeting, GRNMA Vice President Samuel Alagkora Akologo told reporters that he was disappointed and that government representatives had blamed the delay on financial limitations.
We were informed that our demands would not be covered by the budget. We anticipated that these terms of service, which were presented in January, would be included in this year’s budget,” he stated.
Mr. Akologo pointed out that the plan to postpone implementation was an effort to avoid paying arrears and reset the terms of the service calendar.
In order to avoid the concept of arrears, they sought to establish the terms of the service calendar such that it would appear as though we had recently renegotiated. “This is unfair,” he continued.
It is anticipated that the National Council of the GRNMA will examine the government’s proposal and determine the next course of action.
Meanwhile, the lack of nurses and midwives continues to be a problem for healthcare facilities nationwide.
Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, the chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, has stated that if current talks are unsuccessful, the committee is ready to intervene and assist in ending the GRNMA’s current strike.
Dr. Nawaane recognised the vital role nurses play in Ghana’s healthcare system, calling them the backbone of the industry in an interview with JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday, June 9.
Dr. Nawaane stated that although the Health Committee has not received a formal invitation to mediate the issue, the committee is keen to contribute to the resolution.
However, he pointed out that the association did not pursue all options for negotiations before turning to industrial action.
