The Minority in Parliament has sharply criticized the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for what it describes as a gross mishandling of the ongoing nationwide strike by nurses and midwives.
Addressing the media at a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, expressed deep concern over the government’s inaction and confrontational posture in dealing with the demands of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
The strike, which began on Tuesday, June 4, has severely disrupted healthcare delivery across over 300 public hospitals and clinics in all 16 regions of Ghana.
The nurses and midwives are protesting what they describe as long-standing delays in the implementation of their 2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which includes key demands related to allowances, working conditions, and fair remuneration.
Dr. Afriyie, speaking on behalf of the Minority caucus, said the health workers’ demands are “entirely justified,” and accused the government of adopting a dismissive attitude that has only fueled the crisis.
> “Government has not seen the need to engage them since January. They feel undermined as far as their rights are concerned,” he lamented.
The Ranking Member referenced critical components of the CBA that have yet to be honored—among them, a 30-month allowance, a rural incentive allowance intended to encourage service in underserved areas, and long-established fuel and uniform allowances dating back to the 1960s.
“What in this agreement is far-fetched?” Dr. Afriyie asked.”
He further detailed the phased escalation of the strike: beginning with the symbolic wearing of red bands, followed by withdrawal from Out-Patient Department (OPD) services, then In-Patient Department (IPD) responsibilities, and now a full-blown nationwide strike—each step, he argued, underscoring the workers’ desperation and the government’s failure to listen.
The Minority also condemned the government’s decision to seek legal action against the striking nurses and midwives, labeling it an oppressive move rather than a solution.
“Even taking them to court is an extreme act.
You cannot use the law to shackle them.
That’s not right,” Dr. Afriyie stated firmly.
While reiterating the Minority’s support for the rights and demands of the striking nurses, Dr. Afriyie appealed to them for restraint and compassion, urging both sides to return to the negotiation table in the interest of the Ghanaian public.
“Getting all the money without the lives that we have lost brings no joy to anyone,” he added, calling on the government to urgently engage with the health workers and resolve the impasse before more lives are endangered.
The nurses’ strike has sparked public concern as the absence of key healthcare personnel continues to stretch Ghana’s already burdened health system.
Observers are now looking to the government for swift and sincere dialogue to bring the crisis to a resolution.
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