Healthcare delivery across Ghana has been severely disrupted as nurses in public hospitals continue their nationwide strike, leaving many patients stranded and essential services in disarray.
The strike, led by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), has seen nurses abandon their posts in numerous health facilities, crippling operations in outpatient departments (OPDs) and other critical care units.
In response, the Ministry of Health has issued a series of emergency directives aimed at sustaining essential services amid the escalating crisis. A high-level meeting convened on May 30, 2025, brought together key stakeholders, including the GRNMA, the Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives (UPNMG), the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA), the National Association of Registered Midwives (NARM-G), the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ghana (PAPNG), and the Nurses and Midwives Educators Society.
At the meeting, the unions jointly demanded the immediate implementation of a Collective Agreement signed in 2024, which they claim remains unfulfilled. Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh assured the unions that their concerns would be addressed urgently.
While most associations agreed to continue providing services during negotiations, the GRNMA held firm on its decision to strike, prompting the Ministry to roll out contingency measures.
Ministry Activates Emergency Response Measures
To minimize the strike’s impact, the Ministry has instructed all public health facilities to activate their emergency response protocols. Key measures include:
Mandatory presence of hospital managers, particularly Directors of Nursing Services and their deputies, during the strike.
Continued operations of maternity and emergency units across all facilities.
Ambulance services placed on high alert in all districts to handle emergency cases.
Coordination centers established to ensure seamless communication between hospitals and ambulance services.
Daily reports on healthcare service delivery to be submitted to the Acting Chief Director by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service and heads of teaching hospitals.
Collaboration with quasi-government health facilities to absorb the overflow of patients.
Advisory issued to rotational nurses and clinical interns to refrain from participating in the strike.
The Ministry emphasized its commitment to monitoring the situation closely, ensuring the availability of logistics and support systems to cushion the effects of the industrial action.
While commending nurses and midwives who have opted to remain at their posts, the Ministry has renewed its call for the GRNMA to reconsider its stance, stressing that dialogue is ongoing and efforts are being made to resolve all outstanding issues.
