The Minority in Parliament has called on government to reconsider its approach to the ongoing nurses and midwives strike, urging constructive engagement instead of legal action.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, defended the demands outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), describing them as reasonable and justified.
He criticized government for failing to engage GRNMA since January, which has led to the escalating protest.
Dr. Afriyie detailed the gradual steps of the nurses’ industrial action, which began with red bands, moved to disruptions in outpatient (OPD) and inpatient (IPD) services, and has now resulted in a full blown strike.
“All the expectations in the CBA called for in appendix B are justified and not far-fetched, but the government has not seen the need to engage them since January. They feel undermined as far as their rights are concerned, which is why they advised the government of their phased protest actions leading to the total strike”.
The National Labour Commission (NLC) has taken the association to court, a move the Minority describes as an “extreme act of bad faith.”
Dr. Afriyie cautioned that legal action should not be used as a tool to suppress the nurses’ lawful demands.
“They have their rights within the law. You cannot use the law to checkmate them. That is not right”.
He urged the government to sit down with the GRNMA, clearly outline feasible solutions, and commit to resolving the crisis in a way that respects both healthcare workers’ rights and the country’s public health needs.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has warned that fully implementing the demands in the current conditions of service could destabilize Ghana’s economy.
Addressing the media, Akandoh reiterated the government’s openness to dialogue but stressed that the financial implications of the nurses’ demands were not accounted for in the 2025 national budget.
“We wish to draw attention to the fact that the conditions under reference are not captured in the 2025 budget and will completely throw the economy off gear if implemented immediately in the manner it currently exists,” he cautioned.
Akandoh assured that steps are being taken to develop a roadmap for the gradual implementation of nurses’ revised service conditions, emphasizing the government’s awareness of the risks associated with unbudgeted expenditure.
