End strike and return to negotiations – Message to nurses and midwives

The government has called on the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to immediately end its ongoing strike and return to negotiations on their Conditions of Service.

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh expressed deep concern over the impact of the industrial action on patients during a joint press briefing at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

He said the government remains ready to find a solution.

Mr Akandoh assured the striking nurses that their concerns would be addressed in a fiscally sustainable manner.

Strike declared illegal

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has declared the strike illegal after the GRNMA failed to attend a mediation meeting on June 5. The strike began on June 2, 2025.

Despite the NLC’s directive to return to work, the association has continued its industrial action, affecting healthcare delivery across the country.

“The NLC was compelled to take legal steps to declare the strike illegal and called on the GRNMA to immediately call it off in line with the law,” Mr Akandoh said.

“Unfortunately, they have refused to cooperate, prolonging the suffering of patients,” he added.

The Minister revealed that the Ministry of Health, working with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Ministry of Finance, has been engaging stakeholders to develop a roadmap for implementing the new Conditions of Service.

“Government wishes to stress its readiness to further engage to implement the Conditions of Service in a manner that does not dislocate the national budget,” he said.

Mr Akandoh cautioned that the demands, as currently structured, were not budgeted for in 2025 and could destabilise the economy if implemented abruptly.

“We are mindful of the serious economic consequences of unbudgeted expenditure and want to avoid the economic slippages that led to hardships in the recent past,” he said.

Emergency measures

To reduce the strike’s impact, the Ministry of Health announced emergency measures. These include publishing a list of alternative health facilities where patients can seek care and appealing to retired nurses and midwives to volunteer temporarily.

“Given the urgency of the situation, we call on public-spirited retired nurses to assist in this period,” the Minister said.

He also praised nurses still at post, urging others to follow their example.

“We express our deep appreciation to those who have chosen to stay and care for patients. We appeal to their colleagues to show compassion and return to work as discussions continue,” Mr Akandoh said.

The Minister repeated the government’s readiness for dialogue but insisted that the strike must end for meaningful negotiations to proceed.

Budget concerns

The Deputy Minister of Finance Thomas Ampim said fulfilling the GRNMA’s demands in full would add over GH¢2 billion to the wage bill, which could threaten the country’s fiscal stability.

“We are working to reset the economy and maintain a 1.5 per cent primary balance surplus to ensure debt sustainability,” he said.

He therefore appealed to the nurses to return to negotiations.