Gov’t clears nurses, midwives’ allowances in mid-year budget
The government has approved the payment of fuel and uniform allowances for nurses and midwives, with official allocations to be made in the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review, scheduled for presentation to Parliament on July 17.
The announcement, confirmed by the Information Services Department (ISD), follows prolonged negotiations between the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and key government agencies.
It comes amid rising tensions in the health sector, triggered by delays in implementing the 2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
In June 2025, more than 128,000 nurses and midwives launched a nationwide strike that crippled services across public health facilities.
The industrial action disrupted outpatient care, emergency services, and maternal health delivery, sparking public concern over the state of labor relations in the country’s healthcare system.
Among the issues raised by the GRNMA were unpaid fuel and uniform allowances, on-call support, rural service incentives, professional development funding, and a proposed 13th-month salary.
While fuel and uniform allowances were deemed most urgent, union leaders cited nearly a year of delayed disbursements, which they argued had undermined morale and caused significant financial hardship, especially for newly posted and rotational staff.
Although the Ministry of Health initially expressed concerns about the fiscal impact, noting that the allowances were not included in the 2025 budget, Cabinet has now authorized their inclusion through mid-year budget adjustments.
The Ministries of Finance and Employment, in collaboration with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), have been tasked with preparing a phased implementation plan.
The move is expected to provide temporary relief for healthcare workers while broader negotiations continue on the full terms outlined in the CBA.
The GRNMA insists that the government must honor all aspects of the agreement, warning that full implementation should be captured in the 2026 national budget.
