The Ministry of Health has stepped into the spotlight following the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association’s (GRNMA) announcement of an industrial action roadmap, sparking nationwide concern about the future of healthcare services.
The Ministry has directed Security Agencies to provide security for the other groups of nurses who have promised to provide continuous services to patients.
Also, the ministry has urged all hospital managers, particularly Directors of Nursing Services and their Deputies, to be present at work at all times during the period of the industrial action.
On May 30, 2025, the Ministry brought together all major nursing and midwifery groups including the GRNMA, Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives (UPNMG), Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA), and others in a high-stakes meeting aimed at resolving long-standing issues around the 2024 Collective Agreement.
This agreement, which promised improved welfare for nurses and midwives, remains unimplemented, fueling frustration across the profession.
While most associations voiced strong support for implementing the agreement and pledged to keep serving the public, the GRNMA broke ranks, choosing to proceed with industrial action.
The Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh didn’t just listen, he acted. He proposed creating a powerful three-member committee, including representatives from the nursing groups, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Health. This team is tasked with fast-tracking a solution that honors the Collective Agreement and restores harmony.
All parties, except the GRNMA, embraced this plan, signaling a willingness to negotiate and compromise.
The Ministry has since formalized this approach, hoping it will pave the way for peace and progress.
The Ministry has rolled out a robust strategy to ensure that healthcare services remain uninterrupted:
•Security on the Frontlines: Law enforcement agencies will protect nurses and midwives who continue to serve, ensuring their safety amid tensions.
•Leadership in Action: Hospital nursing directors and deputies are mandated to be present around the clock, steering their teams through this crisis.
•Unbroken Care: From maternity wards to emergency rooms, all units must guarantee continuous patient care.
•Emergency Ready: Ambulance services will be on high alert nationwide, ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
•Coordination is Key: Health facilities are setting up emergency response teams to maintain seamless communication and quick action.
•Daily Updates: Top health officials will report daily on service delivery, ensuring transparency and swift response to emerging challenges.
•Support Network: The Ministry is collaborating with quasi-government health facilities to absorb any patient overflow.
•Clinical Staff Advised: Nurses in training and on rotation are urged to avoid industrial action to protect their careers and patient care.
The Ministry praises the majority of nurses and midwives who have chosen to put patients first, continuing their vital work despite the uncertainty.
Source: www.kumasimail.com / Kwadwo Owusu
