Joseph Krampah, Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), has expressed gratitude to the government for its efforts to address the ongoing nursing strike.
However, he sharply criticized the decision to deploy retired nurses, many of whom are physically challenged, to fill in for striking staff.
Speaking in an interview on Ekosiisen, Asempa FM monitored by Kumasimail, Krampah acknowledged the government’s willingness to intervene but questioned the practicality of relying on retired nurses who “are weak in their legs and can barely bend down” to perform demanding nursing duties.
He highlighted that some retired nurses even walk with sticks, raising concerns about their ability to provide adequate patient care.
“The issue and the solution are clear, but the government seems to be beating around the bush,” Krampah remarked.
“We appreciate the gesture of bringing retired nurses on board, but how many of them are there really? They shouldn’t deceive the public. The government knows what needs to be done, and they should commit to implementing what they can. For the rest, they should invite us to negotiate a workable plan.”
Krampah also clarified the scope of the strike, emphasizing that it is primarily GRNMA members who have downed tools, while other nursing unions such as the Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives (UPM) continue to work.
According to him, Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) represents approximately “96,000 members, Professional Nurses and Midwives Ghana (UPNMG) has about 36,752, with other unions accounting for the remainder.”
“The other unions are still on duty because they are satisfied with the conditions of their members. They are following due process, the due process the minister say it was not captured in the budget,”Krampah explained.
Source :www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
