Health Minister, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has issued a stark warning that the full and immediate implementation of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association’s (GRNMA) demands could have dire consequences for the national economy.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, the Minister emphasised that the proposed conditions of service are not accounted for in the 2025 Budget and would significantly destabilise government finances if adopted in their current form.
“We wish to draw attention to the fact that the conditions of service in question are not captured in the 2025 budget and will completely throw the economy off gear if implemented immediately,” Mr. Akandoh cautioned.
GH₵2 billion added to the compensation bill if GRNMA demands are met
Backing the Health Minister’s assessment, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem disclosed that the GRNMA’s proposed conditions—including a 13th-month salary, unpaid allowances, fuel and medical provisions, rural incentives, and uniform support—would cost the government over GH₵2 billion in additional expenditure.
“The reality is that we have over 120,000 nurses. Implementing the current conditions of service they are demanding will add in excess of two billion cedis to the compensation budget,” Mr. Ampem explained.
He stressed that Ghana’s fiscal recovery depends on maintaining a 1.5% primary balance surplus annually to return to sustainable debt levels. “We must avoid the economic slippages that have previously triggered hardship,” he added.
Despite the financial strain, the Health Minister reassured the public that the government remains fully committed to resolving the crisis through dialogue.
He called on GRNMA leaders to return to the negotiating table to finalise a mutually acceptable roadmap.
“We are not turning our backs on the nurses and midwives. We remain committed to engagements that ensure fair outcomes while protecting the stability of the national budget,” Mr. Akandoh said.
He revealed that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, has been directed to lead the development of a workable plan for the implementation of new service conditions without derailing Ghana’s economic recovery.
GRNMA strike continues
The GRNMA declared a nationwide strike on June 2, 2025, citing the delayed implementation of the 2024 Collective Agreement and unresolved grievances.
Their demands include various allowances and improved working conditions. According to Mr. Akandoh, the government had engaged other health sector unions on May 30, but the GRNMA declined to participate and opted for industrial action.
On June 5, the National Labour Commission summoned all stakeholders to an emergency meeting, which the GRNMA failed to attend. As a result, the Commission took legal steps to declare the strike illegal and called for its immediate cessation.
Further efforts were made on June 9, when the FWSC convened another meeting involving the GRNMA, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Finance to discuss a new implementation plan.
At the meeting, the FWSC reiterated that the strike must be suspended to allow proper negotiations to continue.
As the strike disrupts services across public health facilities, the Health Minister announced that the government will publish a list of alternative facilities where patients can seek care. He also made an urgent appeal to retired nurses and midwives to volunteer their services temporarily to alleviate the burden on the system.
“We commend those nurses who have remained at their posts and urge others to show similar commitment. We cannot allow patients to suffer while talks are still ongoing,” Mr. Akandoh said.
Dialogue still possible, govt insists
Echoing the call for a balanced resolution, Deputy Minister Ampem urged the GRNMA to resume talks.
“We want to appeal to them to let us sit down and discuss what can be accommodated so that we can all have a win-win situation,” he said.
With tensions still high and healthcare services stretched, the government’s message remains clear: dialogue, not disruption, is the only viable path forward.
