The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has reiterated its intent to proceed with a planned strike action if government fails to act swiftly on the delayed implementation of their revised Conditions of Service.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, GRNMA President, Perpetual Ofori Ampofo, stated that the association has waited long enough and can no longer accept further delays, especially in the face of a surge in Mpox cases across the country.
According to the strike roadmap, members will commence with symbolic protests from June 2 to 3, during which nurses and midwives will wear red armbands or headbands at work.
This will escalate between June 4 and 8 with a total withdrawal of Outpatient Department (OPD) services, including antenatal care, specialist clinic services, and public health outreach.
READ: Call Off Strike and Return to Negotiations – MoH Appeals to GRNMA
In response, the Ministry of Health issued a statement the same day, expressing shock over the union’s decision.
The Ministry acknowledged that although the revised Conditions of Service were scheduled to take effect in 2024 under the previous administration, implementation has stalled.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey, Madam Ampofo clarified that calls to rescind the decision are misplaced without concrete commitments from the Ministry of Finance.
The GRNMA maintains that the strike is a last resort after multiple attempts to engage government officials yielded no tangible results.
READ: Nursing and Midwifery Unions Disassociate from GRNMA Strike, Urge Members to Stay at Post
She said, “If you are telling us to rescind, you should be telling us that within this period the roadmap starts, that we’ve gotten the Ministry of Finance and it says that on this date they will issue the approval, then we wait and see whether they issue the approval. And I’m saying that we’ve waited for too long. As far as we are concerned, this is the time to have it implemented because even if they issue a communique today to the various entities that they are supposed to implement it, especially the Controller and Accountant General, controller has a window where they open their systems and make all input, it will make everything that happens in June goes into July. So the timeliness of the action is very important, it’s not just about rescinding the decision.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
