The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has renewed calls for increased recruitment of nurses and midwives, improved incentives for rural health workers and clarity on the payment of the 13th-month allowance amid concerns over staff welfare and working conditions.
The demands were raised by the Association’s National President, Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, during a meeting with management and staff of the Upper West Regional Hospital on Monday, October 19, 2026.
Mrs Ofori-Ampofo led the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the GRNMA on a three-day working visit to the Upper West Region, aimed at engaging members and addressing concerns affecting their professional practice and welfare.
She identified persistent staffing challenges as a key concern, calling for increased recruitment to address shortages in health facilities and create employment opportunities for nurses and midwives who remain at home awaiting posting.
The GRNMA President also called for an increase in the study leave quota to enable more members to pursue further education and professional development.
She further demanded clarity on the modalities for paying the 13th-month allowance, alongside improved allowances and incentives for nurses and midwives serving in rural communities.
Mrs Ofori-Ampofo raised concerns about nurses and midwives using their personal motorbikes for official duties, stressing the need for measures to address the situation. She also advocated comprehensive medical insurance coverage for members.
The engagement brought together the national leadership of the Association, the hospital’s management and nurses and midwives to discuss issues affecting healthcare delivery and staff welfare.
Dr Some Ludovic, who represented the Acting Medical Director, Dr Philip K. K. Baabiineh, welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to working with the GRNMA to promote industrial harmony and effective healthcare delivery.
The Hospital Administrator, Mr Francis Luguniah, also commended the Association for the engagement, assuring the delegation that the hospital valued its relationship with the GRNMA.
He disclosed that all staff of the Upper West Regional Hospital enjoyed free medical care.
The delegation later toured selected units of the facility and interacted with nurses and midwives to obtain firsthand information on their concerns and working conditions.
The visit forms part of the GRNMA’s broader engagement with health facilities and members in the Upper West Region, with the national leadership seeking to strengthen communication between the Association, regional structures and hospital management.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
