'We're open to talks, not renegotiation' - GRNMA to Minister of Health

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has told the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, that though they are open to further discussions, they are unwilling to renegotiate the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), signed in 2024.

According to a report by citinewsroom.com, on June 9, 2025, their reaction follows a nationwide strike by nurses and midwives which commenced on June 4, 2025, due to the government's failure to implement key provisions of their 2024 Collective Agreement, which includes allowances, incentives, and improved working conditions.

In response to the ongoing strike, the health minister emphasised the importance of dialogue and urged all parties to work together to find a resolution.

However, despite this call for dialogue, the GRNMA remains resolute in its demands from the government, maintaining its stance on the matter.

In an interview with the media on June 9, 2025, the GRNMA Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Jefferson Asare, reiterated that while the association is open to further discussions, it will not accept any attempts to renegotiate already finalised terms.

"We are ready to meet. If we receive a letter now, we will move anywhere they want us to go, but for renegotiation, we are not ready," Asare stated.

He stressed that among the various groups in the health sector, nurses and midwives are the only ones whose agreed-upon conditions of service remain unfulfilled.

"In the health ecosystem, it is not only nurses who have problems with the conditions of service, yet we are the only group whose conditions have not been implemented," he added.

The ongoing strike has significantly disrupted healthcare services across the country, prompting calls from stakeholders and the public for a swift resolution.

As the standoff continues, patients are left stranded, and the healthcare system is facing unprecedented challenges.

NAD/VPO