The General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), David Tekorang, has dismissed suggestions that the union's demands are excessive, stating they are not "above the roof" and can be met without delay.

Speaking on JoyNews' NewsDesk on Tuesday, June 10, Mr Tekorang argued that the government can address their grievances immediately rather than postponing action until next year's budget.

"Our key demands are not above the roof, it is something that can be contained. I believe the Deputy Finance Minister has done the arithmetic; if he has done the calculations, he will realise that our demand is not something that can throw the economy off gear," he said.

His comments came in response to the government's appeal for patience, with officials claiming the nurses' requests would be considered in the 2026 fiscal plan.

The GRNMA has been pushing for improved conditions of service. Mr Tekorang warned that further delays could worsen the already strained health sector, potentially leading to unrest.

However, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has issued a direct appeal to the striking nurses and midwives, urging them to return to the negotiation table.

On the part of the Health Ministry, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has appealed for calm as the nationwide strike by nurses and midwives enters its second week, stressing the government’s willingness to engage further on the matter, emphasising that the conditions of service in question were not included in the 2025 national budget.

The Conditions of Service agreement was reached and signed in May 2024, and implementation was due in July 2024. However, a splinter group went to court to place an injunction on the implementation because they claimed what was signed was not adequate and that they were not consulted.

The court process was finally resolved in January this year, during the transition from the old to the new government.

According to the GRNMA, they’ve since held several meetings with the employer, and specifically met with the Health Minister way ahead of the budget presentation, and had been fully assured that their conditions were going to be catered for in the budget.
Background to the Strike

Background

The strike, which began on 3rd June, was declared by the GRNMA and its allied associations after months of unsuccessful negotiations with the government over improved conditions of service, including allowances, risk benefits, and rural posting support.

The union has accused the government of failing to honour its commitments, citing stagnation in salaries amid rising cost of living and inflation.

Hospitals and clinics across the country have since been left operating with skeletal staff, causing significant disruption to healthcare delivery.

Emergency services have been prioritised, but many patients in public hospitals have reported delays or outright cancellation of care.

While the Ministry of Health insists it remains open to dialogue, it has not yet presented a revised financial framework that would incorporate the nurses' demands without breaching budgetary limits.

The GRNMA, for its part, insists that it will not call off the strike until tangible commitments are made.