Nurses suspend nationwide strike
Striking nurses and midwives have suspended their nationwide industrial action with immediate effect.
This was announced on Friday, June 13, by the President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, following productive negotiations with government representatives.
Speaking during a virtual press conference, Mrs. Ofori-Ampofo stated: “The meeting held with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and other concerned parties on Thursday, 12th June 2025, was very positive and has opened the door to a peaceful resolution of our issues with the employer regarding the implementation of our collective bargaining agreement.
“In light of that, the GRNMA’s strike action which began on June 2, 2025, is hereby suspended, pending the outcome of a scheduled follow-up meeting on June 26, 2025.”
She instructed all nurses and midwives under the association, numbering over 120,000 to return to work on Saturday, June 14.
The President of the GRNMA assured members that the leadership remains committed to ensuring all agreed terms under the collective agreement are fully implemented.
She also emphasized that, as trained professionals, the concerns of nurses and midwives should be addressed with urgency and sincerity.
“We do not take pleasure in watching our patients suffer. But it is impossible to provide proper care when the welfare of caregivers is neglected,” the GRNMA President said.
She expressed appreciation to the leadership and members of the Parliamentary Committee on Health for their timely intervention, as well as to the nursing and midwifery community for adhering to the strike guidelines. The GRNMA President also acknowledged the media for amplifying their concerns.
Mrs. Ofori-Ampofo called on the public to refrain from spreading misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda on national matters, especially during sensitive times.
The strike, which commenced on June 2 and intensified into a full withdrawal of services by June 9, caused significant strain on public health facilities.
The GRNMA embarked on the strike to demand full implementation of their 2024 Collective Agreement, which includes various allowances such as a 30-month salary allowance, rural service incentives, fuel, and uniform support.
Government, however, argued that meeting the full terms of the agreement, estimated at over GHS2 billion, could destabilize its fiscal framework, particularly its goal of maintaining a 1.5 percent primary balance surplus.
As a compromise, government suggested that the nurses and midwives accept a phased approach, with their improved conditions factored into the 2026 national budget.
In response, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem appealed directly to the striking health workers, encouraging them to resume dialogue. On his part, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, urged them to return to work as solutions were being considered.
The GRNMA has, however, cautioned that while they have paused their industrial action, they will remain vigilant and ensure the government honors its commitments under the agreed roadmap.
