The General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), David Tekorang, has criticized the Ministry of Health’s appeal to retired nurses and midwives to return and volunteer during the ongoing strike, describing it as “laughable.”
The Ministry made the appeal as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of the nationwide industrial action by the GRNMA, which has severely affected healthcare delivery across the country.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, June 10, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh acknowledged the pressure the strike is placing on the system and reiterated the call for retired health professionals to assist temporarily.
Reacting to this on GHOne TV, GRNMA’s General Secretary, David Tekorang dismissed the suggestion, highlighting the poor treatment of retired nurses.
He described the government’s decision as laughable saying, “That is laughable, to say the least. Because if you meet a retired nurse, and you attempt to hold a conversation, she will tell you the kind of pain they are having right now. My brother, how can you pay a retired nurse 100,000 Ghana cedis for having served for 49 years? And when she’s home, you are asking the person to come back, strike breaker. I’m not too sure they will be ready to do that. If they come, so be it.”
The strike stems from the GRNMA’s rejection of the government’s proposal to defer the implementation of revised conditions of service to 2026.
The Association argues that its members are being treated unfairly, especially when other public sector unions have had their demands addressed without such delays.
Despite an emergency meeting held on Monday, June 9 bringing together officials from the Ministry of Health, GRNMA leadership, and other key stakeholders, no resolution was reached.
The strike continues to strain the country’s already overburdened healthcare facilities.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
