Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Rashid Pelpuo says he is “shocked and disturbed” by the strike action of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).

The Wa Central MP is accusing the leadership of failing to engage his office before declaring the industrial action.

“We are more than shocked. We are disturbed. We are worried,” Dr. Pelpuo said in response to the ongoing nationwide strike by nurses and midwives.

“They could go into a decision to strike without much talk with us. And you know, by just what they have done…I believe very strongly that if they started what they said they have started a year ago or two years ago—this is a new administration.”

The strike follows a deadlock in an emergency meeting with the Ministry of Health. At the heart of the standoff is government’s request to postpone the implementation of new conditions of service for nurses until 2026.

A request the GRNMA has rejected.

But Dr. Pelpuo says he was never given the chance to engage directly with the Association before the action was declared.

“I had a chat with the president of the Nurses and Midwives Association, and I was complaining that they did not have the chance—the opportunity. They did not create the opportunity for me to have an interaction with them before the strike,” he revealed.

According to him, early dialogue could have averted the crisis.

“I informed her that I wish we had had some conversation after she had had those kinds of conversations with other sector ministers or other stakeholders.”

He stressed that the government is committed to stabilising the economy and improving labour relations, and needs the full support of public sector workers to achieve it.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure we have a stable economy. We have a stable society. We work with workers to get their full support for how we can run this country.”

Read also: Nurses’ strike continues as Health Ministry fails to reach agreement with GRNMA

Despite the strike already underway, Dr. Pelpuo says his doors remain open.

“We’re still ready to talk,” he implied during the interview. But he made clear the frustration at being sidelined before such a critical action was taken.

The GRNMA has said the government’s attempt to defer implementation of their agreed conditions of service is unacceptable.

Monday’s emergency meeting between the Association and the Ministry of Health ended without resolution.