By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Minority in Ghana’s Parliament, led by the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, has blamed the government for the ongoing strike by nurses and midwives across the country.
According to Dr. Afriyie, the dismissive posture of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)-led government toward members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) is to blame for the prolonged impasse.
Addressing members of the Parliamentary Press Corps on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Dr. Afriyie insisted that the demands made by the healthcare professionals are entirely “justified”.
He argued that the government’s lack of timely engagement with the striking nurses and midwives has only worsened the situation.
The Ranking Member strongly defended the legitimacy of GRNMA’s demands, questioning which aspects of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) could reasonably be deemed excessive.
He pointed to longstanding agreements and historical provisions, including a “30-month allowance” reportedly agreed upon under a previous administration, and a “rural incentive allowance” deemed crucial for attracting healthcare workers to underserved areas.
Dr. Afriyie further cited “fuel allowances” and “uniform allowances,” which he said have been in place since the 1960s, and argued that they should not be subject to arbitrary review or removal.
“All the expectations in the CBA call for appellate speed are justified and not far-fetched. The nurses’ patience had worn thin due to government inaction,” Dr. Afriyie emphasised.
He stated categorically that the root cause of the strike is the government’s failure to engage with the GRNMA since January 2025.
“The government has not seen the need to engage them since January. They feel undermined, as far as their rights are concerned.
“The government has not seen the need to engage them since January. They feel undermined as far as their rights are concerned.
Nurses and Midwives alerted government of their clear intentions from wearing red bands to withdrawing Out-Patient Department (OPD) services, then In-Patient Department (IPD) services, before finally resorting to a total strike. But nobody was listening to them,” he retorted
Dr. Afriyie also condemned the government’s decision to pursue legal action against the striking nurses and midwives.
“To have taken them to court — even that is an extreme act. You cannot use the law to shackle them. That’s not right,” he stated.
The Minority’s health spokesperson therefore urged the government to respect the concerns of nurses and midwives.
“Respect nurses and midwives. Sit with them; let them know what you can do and what you cannot do,” he said.
