The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has officially suspended its industrial action, which commenced on 2 June 2025, in protest against what it characterised as unwarranted delays in the implementation of a Collective Agreement duly executed in May 2024.
The industrial action, which initially began with the symbolic wearing of red armbands, escalated to a complete withdrawal of outpatient and emergency services as of 9 June 2025, resulting in significant disruptions to healthcare delivery nationwide.
In a formal press release issued on the morning of Friday, 13 June 2025, the GRNMA attributed its decision to suspend the strike to appeals from the general public, expressions of concern by patients, and the timely intervention of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health.
“The engagement held with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and other concerned stakeholders on Thursday, 12 June 2025, proved to be constructive and has laid the foundation for a mutually agreeable resolution of the matter,” the Association’s statement read.
The GRNMA accordingly directed all members to resume normal professional duties effective Saturday, 14 June 2025, while confirming that a follow-up meeting has been scheduled with Parliament for 26 June 2025 to formalise a definitive roadmap for the implementation of the outstanding terms of the agreement.
In addition, the Association took the opportunity to dispel prevailing narratives it described as “misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda,” firmly asserting that the strike was neither politically motivated nor intended to cause harm to patients, but rather a lawful and principled demand for compliance with an existing contractual obligation.
The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), in its official statement, affirmed that the strike action was undertaken with deep reluctance, motivated solely by the necessity to safeguard the welfare of its members and the integrity of healthcare delivery.
“We do not derive any satisfaction from witnessing the suffering of our patients. However, we cannot adequately care for others when the system fails to adequately care for us,” the statement asserted.
Reiterating its longstanding commitment to professional neutrality, the GRNMA emphasised its status as a non-partisan professional body and registered trade union with a six-and-a-half-decade history of constructive engagement with successive governments.
“In its 65 years of existence, the GRNMA has never aligned with any political party in Ghana. Rather, it has consistently collaborated with every administration since 1960 to build a stronger, more resilient national health system,” the Association noted.
The Association’s leadership conveyed its appreciation to the Chairman, Ranking Member, and other members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health for what it described as a timely, structured, and effective intervention. It further commended the rank and file of its membership for their exemplary solidarity and discipline throughout the industrial action.
Special acknowledgment was extended to members of the media, whom the Association credited with amplifying its legitimate grievances.
“We thank the press sincerely for carrying our voices to Ghanaians and the entire world. We urge continued professionalism in safeguarding the public against misinformation,” the statement concluded.
The GRNMA affirmed its unwavering commitment to securing the full and faithful implementation of the May 2024 Collective Agreement, declaring that it will not relent in pursuing the lawful entitlements of its members until all agreed terms have been satisfied in full.#newsafro_
