The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has warned that it will not hesitate to resume its suspended strike if the government fails to fulfill its commitments regarding improved conditions of service.
The caution was issued by Samuel Alagkora Akolgo, First Vice President of GRNMA, during an appearance on Newsfile after the Association called off its nationwide industrial action on Friday, June 13.
The strike, which began on June 2, was suspended following “fruitful” negotiations with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and government representatives.
However, concerns remain as the government has indicated that GH¢2 billion needed to meet the nurses’ demands was not budgeted for and will only be available in the 2026 budget.
However, he made it clear that the GRNMA would not hesitate to resume strike action if the government fails to deliver.
When asked whether the GRNMA expects the government’s position to change before the follow-up meeting on June 26, Mr. Akolgo expressed cautious optimism.
“We don’t want to speculate, because the honorable members in the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health are honorable men of integrity, and we believe whatever understanding that we had, they will not relent on their part of the bargain,” he said.
Pressed further by host Samson Lardi on whether the strike would resume if the government fails to act, Akolgo responded:
“We are not going to contemplate resuming, whether to resume or not resume, it is better. We remain positive and hope that the right thing will be done for nurses and midwives so that they can continue to offer… nursing and midwifery services to the people of Ghana. So, we are not going to prejudge what will happen.”
Samuel Akolgo made it clear that the GRNMA’s patience is not infinite.
“We expect government to hold up its end of the bargain regarding our conditions of service, for which reason we decided to suspend our strike action,” he stressed.
The strike, which disrupted healthcare services nationwide, was called off after the GRNMA and government reached a temporary agreement.
However, with no immediate funding allocated, the June 26 meeting will be crucial in determining whether the truce holds or if nurses and midwives will once again take industrial action.
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