Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu says the state simply cannot afford the estimated ¢2 billion annual cost of implementing the new conditions of service demanded by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).

The Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese MP insists that such a fiscal burden would derail the national budget.

Speaking on PM Express on Tuesday, June 10, he justified government’s controversial request to defer the implementation until 2026, a proposal the GRNMA has flatly rejected.

Nurses across the country have been on strike since Monday, June 9, following the breakdown of emergency talks with the Health Ministry.

“There are estimates, including one by the Deputy Finance Minister, that peg the cost at GH¢2 billion annually. I’ve seen some that are even higher,” Kwakye Ofosu said. “

The question is whether the national budget can absorb it. Especially when other categories of public sector workers also have needs.”

He argued that while the state respects the contribution of nurses and midwives, government must act responsibly to avoid pushing the country back into unsustainable debt and deficits.

“Ultimately, as the venerable Alhaji ABA Fuseini would say, you need a head before you can chew corn,” he noted. “We need a functioning economy, well-oiled, with the resources to meet demands like these.”

Kwakye Ofosu rejected the idea that government is turning its back on commitments made by the previous administration. Instead, he described the situation as a necessary re-evaluation.

“Government is a continuum, yes. But there’s a reason why governments change. Governance must be conducted responsibly. If there’s a difficulty arising out of an action by a previous administration, you have a duty to take corrective measures.”

When host Evans Mensah pressed him on why the commitment was not budgeted for despite being part of the transition process, Kwakye Ofosu replied, “You don’t put it in a budget just because you inherited it.

"Many things were in the pipeline, but when we assessed them, we found they would do more harm than good.”

He was emphatic about the implications of acting without budgetary room.

“You can’t place ₵2 billion in unbudgeted expenditure on yourself. You will record a deficit. That’s how we ended up with pervasive hardship and fiscal slippages in the past.”

Despite the standoff, he said the door remains open for dialogue.

“We cannot take unilateral decisions. We must engage our social partners—in this case, the nurses. We retain hope they will return to the table.”

Mr Kwakye Ofosu stressed that backroom negotiations are ongoing.

“We are engaged in efforts behind the scenes to resolve the impasse as quickly as possible, so nurses can return to post and deliver the essential services they are known for.”

In the meantime, he pointed to government contingency plans to protect patients.

“The Health Minister has announced alternative health facilities—both private and public—where patients can receive care. These facilities are staffed by nurses who are not part of the strike.”

He urged the GRNMA to consider the broader national picture.

“We need a mutually beneficial solution—one that satisfies nurses but also preserves Ghana’s economic stability. That is what responsible governance requires.”