The Ranking Member of the Health Committee of Parliament, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, has stated that the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) government led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, showed absolute commitment to implementing the Collective Agreement for nurses and allied health professionals in the public sector.
In an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Dr. Afriye chronicled the background of the ongoing strike action by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
He noted that the previous government had set a date for implementation but the process was stalled due to a legal tussle between the nursing associations.
Describing government as a continuous process, Dr. Afriye questioned the failure of the John Mahama government to implement the agreed conditions of service for nurses and midwives following the resolution of the legal dispute in January this year, after the current government assumed office.
“There are two parties to blame for the standoff: first, the nurses themselves—their associations were divided; second, the nurses don’t see a change in government as a reason to delay. As long as we have an agreement, the current government is supposed to implement it. They should have continued from January and gotten it done,” he stated.
“And it’s true. Public sector workers under the previous government have not been sacked; nurses are nurses, doctors are doctors. A change of government does not affect their rights,” he added.
While accusing the current government of adopting an uncooperative stance, Dr. Afriye further stated that the government has shown bad faith by failing to implement the agreement since January and not engaging effectively with health workers on the matter.
“The nurses have shown good faith from January through February, March, April, May, and up until June. The question is, why have they not been met? Why have they not been listened to? Why has no one explained to them that, due to certain constraints, we cannot implement all these rights at once? Perhaps we could onboard two or three this year and address the rest next year,” he said.
“Nobody has spoken to them. According to the nurses, they were even told that the Ministry of Finance could only make time for them in June. It becomes an issue of ego, and meanwhile, people are dying. As a medical doctor, why should I accept the death of anybody?” he questioned.
He called on the government to adopt a positive approach to the matter and urged the nurses to consider the plight of patients while pursuing their rights as employees.
The Ghanaian nurses, under the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), initiated a nationwide strike starting May 28, 2025, primarily due to the government’s failure to implement the 2024 Collective Agreement.
This agreement, signed over a year ago by the GRNMA, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, addresses critical issues such as unpaid allowances, delayed postings, and improved working conditions.
The GRNMA has expressed frustration over the government’s inaction despite multiple follow-ups, including official letters and visits to the ministries.
The association has demanded the immediate implementation of the agreement, citing the government’s delays as a breach of trust that threatens healthcare delivery and contributes to nurse migration due to poor working conditions.
GA/AME
