The nationwide strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) remains unresolved following a failed emergency meeting with the Ministry of Health on Monday, June 9.
The deadlock stems from the government’s request to postpone the implementation of the nurses’ conditions of service until 2026, an offer the GRNMA has outrightly rejected.
Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, GRNMA Vice President Samuel Alagkora Akologo expressed disappointment, revealing that government officials cited budgetary constraints as the reason for the delay.
“We were told there was no budget provision for our demands. These conditions of service were submitted in January, and we expected them to be factored into this year’s budget,” he said.
Mr Akologo noted that the proposal to defer implementation was an attempt to reset the conditions of service calendar and avoid paying arrears.
“They wanted to set the conditions of the service calendar so that it will be like we have just renegotiated, so that the idea of arrears will not come in. This is not fair,” he added.
The GRNMA’s National Council is expected to review the government’s proposal and decide on the next steps.
Meanwhile, health facilities across the country continue to struggle with the absence of nurses and midwives.
Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, has indicated that the committee is prepared to step in to help resolve the ongoing strike by the GRNMA if ongoing negotiations fail to yield results.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday, June 9, Dr. Nawaane acknowledged the critical role nurses play in Ghana’s healthcare system, describing them as the backbone of the sector.
While the Health Committee has not been officially invited to mediate in the matter, Dr. Nawaane said the committee is eager to be part of the solution.
He, however, noted that the association did not exhaust all negotiation avenues before resorting to industrial action.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
