The prolonged industrial action by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) may be edging toward resolution following productive discussions with the government, mediated by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health.
The meeting, which brought together high-level representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), alongside GRNMA officials, marked a significant shift in the impasse that has gripped the health sector since 4 June 2025.
The strike, which was triggered by delays in implementing the 2024 Conditions of Service agreed upon on 20 May 2024, has strained public healthcare delivery across the country.
Despite the National Labour Commission’s declaration that the strike is illegal, GRNMA has maintained its stance, vowing not to return to work until tangible steps are taken to address its demands.
During the meeting, the government team appealed to GRNMA to call off the strike and return to the negotiation table, stressing the importance of continued dialogue.
The parties agreed to reconvene in two weeks to further deliberate on the implementation of the 2024 Collective Agreement.
According to a statement issued on June 12, the discussions were constructive, with both sides demonstrating a willingness to compromise.
The government reiterated its challenges in implementing the agreed-upon conditions due to current budgetary constraints but reaffirmed its commitment to reaching a solution that is fair and sustainable.
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health acknowledged the legitimacy of GRNMA’s concerns and pledged to play an active role in ensuring a resolution is found.
Committee members commended both parties for engaging in dialogue and underscored the urgent need to restore normalcy in the health sector.
The Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UPNMG), the Professional Association of Psychiatric Nurses, Ghana (PAPNG), the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA), and the National Association of Registered Midwives, Ghana (NARM-G), have jointly announced significant progress in the ongoing negotiations concerning the Conditions of Service (CoS) for nurses and midwives.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, June 12, the unions expressed satisfaction with the constructive dialogue that has taken place with the government and relevant stakeholders. The unions attributed this progress to their unwavering commitment to collaboration and professionalism throughout the negotiation process.
“These gains are the result of our unions’ unwavering commitment to dialogue, collaboration, and professionalism,” the statement read.
“Throughout this period, we have chosen to engage constructively with the government and stakeholders while ensuring continuity of care for the public. Our approach has reaffirmed our conviction that sustainable outcomes are best achieved through negotiation, rather than confrontation.”
The unions also expressed heartfelt appreciation to all members who remained at their posts during the period of uncertainty, commending their dedication and service.
“Your dedication has brought credibility to our cause and played a critical role in securing these achievements,” the statement continued.
In light of the progress made, the unions respectfully called on the leadership of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to call off the ongoing strike and return to work. The unions emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration in advancing the interests of the nursing and midwifery professions.
“This is the time to unite our efforts, protect the integrity of our profession, and demonstrate to the nation that nurses and midwives stand for both advocacy and responsibility,” the statement concluded.
The unions assured members that further updates would be communicated in due course and urged continued calm, unity, and vigilance as leadership continues to engage with the government and other stakeholders.
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has stated that a re-negotiation of the conditions of service for the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) is currently not under consideration.
In an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. George Smith-Graham, expressed the Commission’s willingness to engage the nurses but noted that they have not been forthcoming.
“A review of the conditions of service, as far as I’m concerned, is not on the table for discussion at this moment. The only issue is the proposed shift in implementation to 2026,” he stated.
“They are an essential service and should have attached the same urgency to the matter as we did. The leadership should have met us to discuss our proposal for the shift, but they haven’t come back to us. This is making things difficult and does not augur well for the negotiations,” he added.
The GRNMA has been on strike since June 4, 2025, over the government’s failure to implement provisions of their 2024 Collective Agreement, which include allowances, incentives, and improved working conditions.
There have been several calls for the association’s leadership to suspend the strike and return to the negotiation table, but all efforts have proven unsuccessful.
However, the GRNMA has made it clear that although it remains open to discussions, it will not accept any attempt to reopen negotiations on issues that have already been finalised.
Healthcare professionals across the Volta and Oti Regions were honoured for their dedication and excellence at the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) Awards Night, celebrating outstanding service and commitment to patient care.
“This award is not just about individual accomplishments, but a tribute to the spirit of unity, resilience, and collective hope that drives the heart of healthcare in the Volta and Oti regions,” declared Dr. Adu Appiah-Kubi, Chairman of the Awards Committee, in his opening address at the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) Volta and Oti Regions’ Dinner and Awards Night.
Dr. Appiah-Kubi, an esteemed Obstetrician-Gynaecologist, set the tone for the evening with a stirring reminder of the greater purpose behind the awards ceremony—recognizing not only the hard work and achievements of healthcare professionals but also the shared commitment to fostering progress, healing, and collaboration within the local medical community.
The event, held at the Sky Plus Hotel in Ho, brought together doctors, philanthropists, healthcare organizations, and community leaders who have made a lasting impact on the health and well-being of people in these regions.
As the night unfolded, it became clear that the awards were more than a mere recognition of individual excellence; they symbolized the collective power of collaboration and the tireless efforts that healthcare workers put into improving the quality of life for communities across Volta and Oti.
Dr. Appiah-Kubi urged those in attendance to recognize that the challenges facing the healthcare sector in these regions are not insurmountable.
He called for stronger collaboration between government, private sector players, NGOs, and individuals, stressing the need to pool resources, share knowledge, and innovate to ensure equitable healthcare access for all.
“Our work goes beyond the hospital walls; it’s about strengthening the foundation of healthcare for every person in our region,” he said.
The awards ceremony was an emotional reflection of the transformation made possible by dedicated healthcare professionals. Among the honorees was the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), which was recognized with the Organizational Excellence Award for its pioneering work in maternal health, healthcare infrastructure, and capacity building.
The organization’s contributions have been instrumental in empowering healthcare providers and improving health outcomes in the region.
Dr. Appiah-Kubi took a moment to highlight the broader impact of these efforts, stressing that the ceremony was about more than just handing out certificates and accolades.
“Every award given tonight is a symbol of progress—a testament to the promise of a better, healthier future for all. It is our collective responsibility to contribute to that future,” he said, encouraging all stakeholders to deepen their commitment to healthcare and innovation.
The Volta Regional Chairman of the GMA, Dr. Med Kweku Appiagyei, reminded his colleagues of the importance of professionalism and dedication.
“We are here because of our patients. Let us continue to work tirelessly to improve healthcare delivery. When we do this, not only do we make a difference in the lives of others, but we also find fulfillment in our own work,” he said, reinforcing the importance of passion and care in the medical profession.
Dr. Appiagyei also made an appeal to young medical professionals, encouraging them to consider working in the Volta and Oti regions, where opportunities for growth and mentorship abound.
“There is room for you here,” he said, emphasizing the supportive and nurturing environment awaiting new doctors and dentists eager to make a difference.
As the evening drew to a close, the message was clear: healthcare professionals in the Volta and Oti regions are not only working toward healing individuals but are also united in their pursuit of a brighter, healthier future for all. The awards night served as both a recognition of past achievements and a call to action for the future—one that demands collaboration, compassion, and commitment.
Renowned Professor of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Prof Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, has criticised the current state of Ghana’s health sector, describing it as poorly structured, understaffed, and undisciplined.
Speaking on The Sages on JoyNews, Prof Adu-Gyamfi lamented the deterioration in discipline and leadership within the service.
“I can’t give a straightforward answer. In terms of personnel, not just in numbers, but in terms of the speciality mix that we need, we are nowhere near what we should be. In terms of the structure of the health service, I don’t think it’s well-structured. In terms of discipline, discipline has gone out of the window. There’s no discipline so far as I’m concerned.”
He shared a powerful anecdote from his early years as a young medical officer, recalling how he and his colleagues rose to the occasion during Ghana’s first major cholera outbreak in 1971.
“In 1971, I was a young medical officer. The first cholera episode to hit the country occurred then. I, Dr Kofi Doe and Professor Anim, we were just instructed to go and take turns and cover the whole of the Ada area. That was the epicentre of it. We just didn’t think to question it or to resist.”
“We just moved. Yes, we had your gloves, and you had a bit of it. We didn’t have water. It was Mr. A.S.O. Mensah, who was then the regional, Accra Regional, Greater Accra Regional Minister. Yeah. We had our bottles, but he eventually saw the light and was sending tankers of water to supply the area. And then, of course, that’s when we could do our thing, wash. Otherwise, we washed our hands with beer.”
The Professor pointed out that while efforts are being made to improve medical education and decentralise postgraduate training, many challenges remain, particularly when it comes to incentivising the health workforce to take up critical but under-represented specialities.
“So, we were willing to obey and serve. So, we did that, and you improvised as you went along. We did. And then these days, even the education, postgraduate education, the College of Surgeons and Physicians is assisting to try and decentralise it. And then the needed but scarce specialities are being encouraged one way or the other to come in to make things easy for people to get into those areas. But incentives are yet to be put in place to attract a whole lot of them into those areas. So far, public health has been very popular.”
A coalition of advocacy organisations and media stakeholders is rallying to draw attention to the persistent threat of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) across Africa.
Speak Up Africa, Sightsavers, Brands On A Mission, and REMAPSEN are joining forces to elevate public discourse and action on this critical health issue.
Their collaboration will be showcased at the 4th Media Forum, scheduled to take place from November 25 to 27, 2025, under the theme: “Media Contribution to Positioning the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Africa.”
The Forum will take place in Abidjan, the Ivory Coast.
As a key partner, Speak Up Africa underscores the importance of media in shaping public health outcomes.
Mr. Papa Djibril Faye, Health Advocacy Officer at Speak Up Africa, emphasised that “the media have a critical role to play in education, awareness, and mobilising resources.”
He pledged that through the 4th Media Forum, Speak Up Africa aims to “equip REMAPSEN journalists with the tools to strengthen media coverage around NTDs and become powerful advocacy allies with accessible, factual narratives.”
Mr. Papa Djibril FAYE, Health Advocacy Officer at Speak Up Africa
In a recorded message shared during the May 30th press launch, Professor Myriam Sidibé, Founding President of Brands On A Mission (BOAM), the principal partner of the REMAPSEN Awards, elaborated on her organisation’s mission.
BOAM operates at the crossroads of health and sustainable development, and according to Prof. Sidibé, “the Brands On a Mission is therefore perfectly aligned with REMAPSEN’s objectives.”
She emphasised the transformative power of storytelling in behaviour change.
“We believe that narrative is one of the most powerful tools for changing behaviours and ultimately, systems. Through the REMAPSEN Awards, we are proud to celebrate and invest each year in the voices of African journalists, particularly young people who shape narratives that drive progress.”
Professor Sidibé also added that the partnership is part of the African Voices initiative, which amplifies local solutions and celebrates changemakers in health, climate, and development.
“BOAM expects from journalists a solution-oriented approach that highlights challenges and innovations emerging locally,” Professor Sidibé added.
Professor Myriam SIDIBÉ, Founding President of Brands On A Mission (BOAM)
In his message, Mr. Simon Bush, Director of Neglected Tropical Diseases at Sightsavers, reaffirmed the organisation’s support. He indicated that Sightsavers is proud to partner with REMAPSEN on this important media forum in Abidjan.
While NTDs are preventable, they continue to impact over a billion people worldwide. Our work supports African health ministries in controlling and eliminating five major NTDs: trachoma, river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, and intestinal worms.
In stressing the media’s role in maintaining momentum, Mr. Bush noted that at a time when global health gains are at risk, journalists play a vital role in holding governments accountable to their commitments and in breaking the stigma that prevents people from seeking treatment.
“At a time when many recent advances in global health are threatened, journalists have an essential role to play in holding governments accountable for their commitments to NTD elimination.
“Journalists can also share the stories of people affected by NTDs to break the stigma associated with these diseases and encourage patients to come forward for treatment,” he said.
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, has partnered with Health Horizons-China and Strategic Initiatives Limited (SIL) to distribute washable sanitary pads to the female students of Taviefe Senior High School within the Ho municipality of the Volta region.
The move, according to the Minister, is aimed at promoting menstrual hygiene and dignity among adolescent girls.
Addressing students and staff during the outreach, Mr Gunu noted that the gesture was part of a broader commitment to improving conditions for young women in schools, particularly in underserved communities.
He used the occasion to engage with the school’s leadership on their most urgent challenges.
“The Headmaster shared with me the school’s pressing needs—a reliable borehole to end their water struggles, proper housing for teachers, and furniture for their newly built dining hall,” the Minister stated.
In response, Mr. Gunu pledged immediate intervention to alleviate the water crisis. “I assured them that my office will act swiftly to bring water to Taviefe SHS as part of our ongoing water projects,” he said, reiterating his administration’s resolve to address basic infrastructural gaps across the region.
The Minister also commended the foresight and commitment of SIL and Torgbe Afede XIV, whose continued support for female students has preceded the government’s anticipated rollout of the nationwide free sanitary pad policy.
He hailed the collaboration as a sterling example of community-driven development.
“To the students, I say: focus on your studies, but also nurture your talents; that’s why I’ve pledged footballs and jerseys to boost sports,” Mr. Gunu added, encouraging a balanced pursuit of academics and extracurricular passions.
He concluded with a rallying call for stronger partnerships in the education sector.
“This is what progress looks like, when traditional leaders, donors, and government work as one for our schools.”
The event marks a promising chapter for Taviefe SHS and signals a growing momentum behind initiatives that champion both gender equity and educational upliftment in the Volta Region.
At first, it was exciting to welcome a child, but that excitement is cut short after unforeseen complications marred the labor process which rather brings pain and agony.
Victims of obstetric fistula bear a burden of incontinence, making them urinate without control, and even excrete without will from a normal hole created after a long obstructed childbirth.
Such women live in a world jam-packed with social isolation, mental devaluation, everlasting medical complication and child loss.
The buried cost of childbirth
Her troubles began after a traumatic childbirth that even the arrival of a new baby could not provide solace.
The life of 29-year-old businesswoman, Sumaya Abdul Rahim, altered completely after noticing something distressing.
The sight of specialized surgical instruments performing the gynecological procedure.
That was a month after her emergency C-section at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
“My time was due, and I started bleeding around 5 am. Doctors said my womb had ‘busted’, transferred me to KATH where I had my cesarean section due to the severity.
“But after a month, when I pass stool some flow from my vaginal opening. I was alarmed, reported to the hospital again, and conducted some tests,” Sumaya soberly shares with Clinton Yeboah.
The screening confirmed obstetric fistula; a new situation she would bear alongside the joy of welcoming her newborn.
Vida Opoku, a 33-year-old mother of five, knows this pain all too well.
After delivering her last child, the thriving trader has now been stuck at home.
Her foiled labor also left her incontinent, obliging her to rely on diapers.
“I use diapers and I fear I might stain myself unprovoked anywhere. In fact, I rather not go out at all times,” she said.
The Hidden Epidemic
Obstetric fistula is a hidden epidemic growing in the comfort of limited maternal health care and access.
In Ghana, rural folks, underprivileged pregnant women who lack nourishment and alertness, stand at the highest risk of acquiring this deadly prize.
Sumaya and Vida make their way to the fistula surgery, a moment that will change their lives forever
The hindrance of cost also stares at the poor underprivileged affected women.
Obstetric fistula is an abnormal hole or opening formed between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum, causing affected women to pass urine uncontrollably, and excrete from their virginal opening.
About 90% of these cases are often due to prolonged and obstructed labor.
Data from Ghana’s District Health Management Information System (DHIMS II) indicates 1,300 new cases of obstetric fistula are recorded every year.
There is a heartbreaking twist to this situation: the concern of child marriage and teenage pregnancy.
29-year-old, Sumaya Abdul Rahim shares her story with Clinton Yeboah in disguise
Reverend Sister Olivia Umoh is the Director of Safe Child Advocacy – a social organization addressing needs of women, girls and vulnerable populations in Kumasi.
She makes a revelation of her experience with the compounded suffering of teenage girls.
Under their undeveloped bodies, they bear pregnancies that subsequently put them in high risk of obstetric fistula.
“I’ve witnessed some very young girls encounter this situation after being compelled to marry and forced to carry pregnancies at a very young age that lead them to suffer under their immature bodies. Our society needs to address this,” she told Clinton Yeboah.
Despite its deadly and undesirable nature, surgical repair rate stands less than 41%, with 1.6 to 1.8 cases occurring per 1,000 births.
Obstetric Fistula Surgeon at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr Baffour Opoku, explains factors compounding the situation which plague rural Ghana.
Preventable and treatable, yet access and lack of resources grip these statistics, influencing deadlock among victims.
“It is troubling that in 2025, modern obstetrics still have women suffering from obstetric fistula, a condition wholly preventable with good obstetric care. Many women who undergo long labors end up not progressing as they should due to inaccessibility to quality obstetric care and they end up developing obstetric fistula. Not all women also deliver in the hospital or have access to the hospital. Such situations open up the vulnerability,” he said.
Programme Specialist, Reproductive Health at the United Nations Population Fund, Dela Bright Gle decries the piling of untreated cases.
“Our study establishment of fistula burden in Ghana 2015 revealed that incidences are around 700 to 1,200 yearly. So if the repairs per year due to lack of resources are just about 60, you can imagine that there are a lot of backlog of cases to deal with and living in the shadows,” she said.
Social isolation and deadly burden
Programme Specialist, Reproductive Health at the United Nations Population Fund, Dela Bright Gle
The rest of the story lies in the silent burden of raiding affected women’s dignity and jolly livelihoods.
Since the diagnosis, Sumaya’s confidence has dipped.
She would rather stay home than expose her situation just to escape her constant fear of embarrassment.
“My family was troubled. It beats our imagination how one child birth could have all these complications. I had to be extra cautious but not going out for a year has been a hard time. To go out and experience uncontrolled excrement, I would rather prevent the shame and stay home,” she admits.
Meanwhile, Vida feels this weight of isolation as she abandons her work and social life; the opposite of her bubbly life.
“I’ve been too shy to go out. I can’t even go to church and I feel I need to be isolated from people. I now survive on wearing pampers because I fear I might stain myself unprovoked anywhere, so I rather not go out. I have also not been working. I cannot risk selling outside,” she said.
Vida Opoku, a 33-year-old mother of five, recounts her pain and hope.
The lived experiences of Sumaya and Vida rather mirror the social toll of many untold stories.
“It is disheartening that after the pain of child birth, women are subjected to another pain in the form of humiliation and abandonment. And it’s always sad as they are always neglected,” Director of Safe Child Advocacy Reverend Sister Olivia Umoh said.
Many are wallowing in depression and anxiety
In severe instances, wives are made to believe the condition is a curse and a punishment for infidelity.
Obstetric Fistula Surgeon, Dr Baffour Opoku, with enough exposure to treatment of such cases especially from rural Ghana, reveals that the stigma is pervasive, yet the true burdens of fistula on victims are hidden.
He decried the limited research.
“It’s still hard to actually ascertain the burden of disease, including how many women actually are suffering from obstetric fistula. The stigma associated puts them into hiding, so no social support. In some places, they are put in witch camps and specialist and authorities can’t assess them.
“About 90% do not get the babies for which they went through the obstructed labor problem. And if left untreated for long, develop urine dermatitis, contractures and nerve damages. Most of the husbands run away, and they end up being dependent on their immediate relatives,” he said.
The Hope of Treatment
Obstetric fistula is preventable and treatable.
The World Health Organization confirms that surgical repair of an obstetric fistula has a 90% success rate in simple cases, and a 60% success rate in complex situations.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) campaign to end obstetric fistula by 2030 also promises free obstetric care in Ghana’s major hospitals, on which Vida and Sumaya are banking their hopes to reclaim their lives to normalcy.
The broader challenge now remains: preventing new cases and increasing outreach to the already affected.
With access to skilled surgeons and social interventions for the underprivileged, women can reclaim their lives.
Obstetric Fistula Surgeon, Dr Baffour Opoku, is encouraging early intervention.
Reverend Sister Olivia Umoh, the Director of Safe Child Advocacy, Kumasi.
He asserts that first surgical repair is critical, as scar tissue from failed surgeries will make subsequent attempts tougher.
“Not every surgeon has the skill to treat fistulas. For complex cases, patients need extremely experienced surgeons to treat them. Early intervention is important. However, the first repair is always the best repair. If the first repair is unsuccessful, subsequent surgeries become more difficult,” he reveals.
Renewed Call to Action
Obstetric fistula is to be more than a medical condition; its intricacies involve human rights, functioning social systems and better health care systems.
Breaking the cycle of stigma and misconception is a step to a sound treatment for the affected.
Sumaya is now an advocate, urging women suffering in silence to seek help.
“Don’t stay home and think it’s not treatable. It’s treatable and with a specialized doctor you will get your normal life back. Women suffering from this condition should remain patient and steadfast. And they should seek help even if they are poor,” she said.
The urge for extensive awareness has become pertinent as society wallows in misunderstanding and lack of alertness for Obstetric Fistula.
Dela Bright Gle of UN Population Fund says heightened education and awareness will dismantle controversies.
She is encouraging partnerships that utilize resources, social support systems and infrastructure provision to prevent, reintegrate, and repair the anomaly in struggling societies.
“When something is shrouded in mystery, it stirs up a lot of controversies, myths, and misconceptions about what it is. When people know what it is, then they would understand that it’s just one of those morbidities that can be treatable and fully eradicated.
“It is not yet covered by the national health insurance package but if partners routinize the repairs and we have more repairs, increasing from 60 a year to 200 to even 2,000 a year we will solve the situation,” she said.
Director of Safe Child Advocacy, Reverend Sister Olivia Umoh believes there should be a national and institutional policies to address the situations.
“These people should be supported by their immediate families. The burden also lies with civil societies, non-profit social organization and the government. Hospitals can set up specific units to tackle women suffering from fistula. This provides a well concentrated approach to tackling the situation head-on. The national health insurance scheme can further its coverage to these vulnerable groups” she said.
The phenomena of obstetric fistula is a national issue, yet neglected at the detriment of victims.
Mothers, wives and young women, want to live happy lives during and after child birth.
Kwame Sarpong Asiedu, a Public Health Fellow at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has emphasised that there is no justification for reopening negotiations on the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association’s (GRNMA) agreement with the government.
However, he stresses that cool heads must prevail as both sides manage the fallout from the ongoing nationwide strike, which has brought critical healthcare services across the country to a standstill.
The GRNMA declared a strike on Tuesday, 4 June, over what it describes as prolonged delays in implementing the 2024 Collective Agreement — a negotiated package that addresses key issues relating to remuneration and conditions of service.
The industrial action has affected over 300 public hospitals and clinics in all 16 regions of Ghana.
Speaking on JoyFM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Asiedu expressed concern over the breakdown in communication and the government’s handling of the agreed deal.
He stressed that the negotiations had already been concluded and what remains is implementation, and not a renegotiation.
“The negotiations are finished. I don’t think there’s a need for any renegotiation of the package because that has been concluded. What is needed now is firm discussion on implementation.”
Reflecting on the broader implications, he posed a critical question:
“When I am confronted with things like this, I ask myself a basic question: what health system do we want versus what health system do we have? And are we sure that the situations we find ourselves in lend themselves towards the health system we want?”
Mr Asiedu recalled that when negotiations began in 2024, they were already taking place under the shadow of growing health worker migration.
“At the time, we had a number of conversations on this same platform. The professional migration was at its peak, and poor remuneration was highlighted as the major factor. Others, however, tried to argue that nurses were not patriotic enough.”
He strongly dismissed that view.
“I maintain that when it comes to bread-and-butter issues, patriotism is not a determinant. Because, at the end of the day, when that nurse goes to pay the children’s school fees, buy groceries, or pay for electricity and water, nobody asks for their patriotic card. They either pay or do without.”
Questioning why the finalised agreement was not captured in the national budget, he stated:
“The negotiations have happened. How did it not get into the budget? I struggle with that. I don’t know where the ball was dropped. Considering there has been a change in government, was this overlooked during the transition? And if so, how?”
He noted that even if the current administration found the cost reportedly around 2 billion cedis too high to absorb fully this year, it could have initiated phased implementation with transparency and consultation.
“If the government had acknowledged taking over the reins and admitted that they couldn’t absorb the entire cost immediately, they could have engaged and proposed to stagger it. If that conversation had started before the strike threats, we might not be here.”
Mr Asiedu further described the current crisis as a reflection of long-standing policy failure.
“This situation goes back to a historic neglect of health human resources in Ghana. What the current compensation package attempts to do is correct that neglect — and yes, the overall sum to be paid may exceed what the government had initially budgeted for. But that cannot be used as an excuse to let nurses go without their due.”
Calling for restraint and compromise, he concluded: “Cool heads must prevail. Both parties need to engage seriously. We cannot compromise our health system — people are dying and will continue to die if this persists. But at the same time, we cannot break the back of the economy, because when we enter deep economic hardship, everyone suffers — including the nurses.”
He urged government to reconsider its proposed timeline for implementation, reportedly postponed to 2026.
“If the government is saying it cannot implement the agreement this year and intends to push it to 2026, that’s something it must reconsider. Implementation should begin this year to show commitment and rebuild trust.”
