The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has warned of a nationwide strike if the government proceeds with plans to dismiss nurses and midwives recruited after the December 2024 elections.
The directive, which affects over 5,000 healthcare workers, is set to significantly impact healthcare services across the country, according to the GRNMA.
The Association’s president, Perpetual Ofori Ampofo, called for an immediate halt to the dismissals, stating that any such actions would prompt a nationwide strike.
“There is a lot of tension in our fraternity,” Mrs Ofori AAmpofo stated “If the government moves ahead with suspending these nurses and midwives, we will have no choice but to stand in solidarity with our colleagues. This means if they are asked to stay home, we will all stay home.”
The government’s decision stems from a directive issued by the Chief of Staff, instructing state institutions to revoke the appointments of individuals recruited after the December elections who have not been included on the Controller and Accountant-General’s payroll by January 2025.
This has sparked protests among the affected workers, many of whom were recruited under the previous administration.
Mrs Ofori Ampofo emphasized that suspending the workers would exacerbate staffing shortages and burnouts in the healthcare system, with nurse-to-patient ratios already stretched thin.
She criticized the decision, arguing that investigations should be conducted while the nurses remain at their posts, rather than being sent home.
The GRNMA has held talks with the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, but has not received any assurances regarding the suspension of the nurses.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service has instructed institutions to begin the dismissals, pending further investigations.
