GRNMA rejects govt’s “unfair” 2026 proposal

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June 9, 2025
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The nationwide strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) remains unresolved, as the union has firmly rejected a government proposal to postpone the implementation of their conditions of service to 2026.

In a closed-door emergency meeting held on Monday, June 9, the Ministry of Health engaged with GRNMA leaders and other key stakeholders in an attempt to end the impasse and negotiate improved working conditions.

However, speaking to journalists after the meeting, GRNMA Vice President Samuel Alagkora Akologo revealed that the Ministry attributed its inability to meet the association’s demands to budgetary constraints.

“We were told that there was no budget provision for it, and these conditions of service were presented to the government in January, and we expected that they would be factored into this year’s budget. Unfortunately, we are being told that the challenges of the implementation are such that they have budget constraints,” he said.

According to Akologo, the government proposed deferring implementation until 2026—a move the association considers unacceptable.

“And what they wanted us to agree on was to push the implementation to 2026. What it means is that they wanted to set the conditions of the service calendar so that it will be like we have just renegotiated, and then we are moving on, so that the idea of arrears will not come in. This is not fair,” he added.

The GRNMA’s National Council is expected to review the proposal and determine the union’s next steps, as health facilities across the country continue to grapple with the impact of the ongoing strike.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health says it remains committed to engaging the GRNMA further.

Ministry Spokesperson Tony Goodman stressed their openness to continued dialogue and compromise.

“We are open to any proposals they may also come back with. We are open to any discussion. We are not saying that whatever position we have is what they should take. They may also have their own position. We will look at it and see if necessary, we will adjust. That is what negotiation is about,” he stated.

Source: citinewsroom.com

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Health

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June 6, 2025
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3 minutes Read

Nurses Strike: Health Minister calls for independent mediation as Nurses and Midwives’ strike

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, is calling for the immediate establishment of an independent mediation body to help resolve the escalating impasse between the government and striking nurses and midwives.

His appeal comes as the nationwide strike enters its fourth day, leaving hospitals overstretched and patients stranded across the country. Thousands of nurses and midwives have withdrawn their services in protest against delays in the implementation of their agreed Conditions of Service.

In an interview with JoyNews, the Minister expressed deep concern over the mounting pressure on the health system and urged all parties to return to the negotiation table.

“Our last meeting before they announced the road map, we agreed that all stakeholders must come together to see how we can implement the agreement,” the Minister said. “I understand the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission is willing to engage again on Monday.”

He stressed the need for neutrality in resolving the crisis, proposing an impartial body to guide the process. “We want to be very objective. An independent body should come in here—one that can look the Minister of Health or the Minister of Finance in the face and say, ‘This is your responsibility, let’s proceed accordingly,’” he stated.

Mr. Akandoh emphasized dialogue over confrontation, urging both sides to de-escalate tensions. “We are not here to intimidate anyone, and I pray that nobody intends to intimidate the government. Let’s sit together, have frank discussions, and find a solution.”

“Let’s massage our egos, set aside our emotions. We have lives to save, and we have a nation to run,” he added.

Despite the minister’s conciliatory tone, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) remains resolute. General Secretary Dr. David Tenkorang reiterated that the strike would continue until the government begins implementing the agreed terms.

“We deal with the employer, and that employer hasn’t changed. Governments may come and go, but the Ministry of Health remains the same,” Dr. Tenkorang said.

He criticized the government’s delay in fulfilling the agreement, arguing that the demands are reasonable and overdue. “We’ve shown enough patience with this administration. These are issues that can be resolved easily. There’s no need for Ghanaians to suffer.”

Dr. Tenkorang also voiced concern over the growing number of nurses and midwives emigrating in search of better working conditions.

“Those who remain have chosen to sacrifice. They can also leave—but they stay because we must build Ghana together,” he said. “If there was ever a time for the government to show appreciation to nurses and midwives, it’s now.”

Source: myjoyonline.com

Health

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March 21, 2025
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4 minutes Read

Central Region records 45.3% new cases cases of HIV in 2024

The Central Region recorded a dramatic rise in new HIV infections in 2024, with 3,803 new people contracting the virus, the Regional Health Directorate has reported.

This is a 45.3 per cent rise from the 2,168 new infections recorded in 2023, posing a significant risk to the population.

Dr Mrs Agnes Achiamaa Anane, the Acting Regional Director of Health Service, who shared the report expressed disquiet over the development, citing substantial pressures on the health system.

She was making a statement at the 2024 Central Regional annual performance review meeting in Cape Coast, where the region’s health system was appraised by health officials from the Eastern Regional Health Directorate with a high score.

A two member-team from the Eastern Region visited the Central Region to assess its performance, using three key objectives.

The assessment focused on universal access to better and efficiently managed quality health care; reduced avoidable maternal, adolescent and child deaths and disabilities; and increased access to responsive and public health emergency services.

The region’s overall performance inched up from 3.9 in 2023 to 4.1 out of the score of five in 2024.

On cholera outbreak, Dr Anane announced that suspected cases in the region stood at 3,028 as of Tuesday, March 18 with 260 of them, including four health workers, confirmed.

Unfortunately, 19 people had succumbed to the infection so far.

She noted that mortality in general in the region increased by 14 per cent with maternal mortality jumping from 71 per 100,000 Live births in 2023 to 82 per 100,000 live births in 2024.

Despite that, the region saw a general improvement in its health situation, recording positive outcomes in stillbirth rate, Measles-Rubella coverage, incidence of malaria, mother-to-child HIV transmission and many other areas.

The Acting Regional Director, entreated the public to take precautionary measures against HIV by the youth abstaining from sex, using condoms or avoiding multiple sex partners.

In the case of cholera, she implored citizens to practice proper sanitation and stop open defecation.

She stressed that cholera remained a major public health concern in the region, with the recent outbreak exposing gaps in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions.

“In response, we are intensifying cholera prevention efforts, conducting mass awareness campaigns, and strengthening surveillance and early response mechanisms to contain and prevent future outbreaks,” she said.

Dr Anane acknowledged the grave human resource gaps, the lack of technical personnel and the necessary equipment in many of the districts needed to provide quality care in many health facilities.

She, however, assured that the directorate was actively engaging the relevant authorities on the issues to lessen the burden of health workers to enable them give off their best.

Mr Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, the Central Regional Minister, in a statement presented on his behalf, applauded the Regional Health Directorate and health workers in the region for their dedicated services and pledged to support them in every means possible to deliver their work effectively.

He reiterated government’s commitment to strengthening the health system with a raft of measures, by outlining plans in the budgetary allocation to advance national healthcare delivery.

The Regional Minister, however, denounced the poor situation in some streets and communities in the area, which had made the people susceptible to infectious diseases and putting a burden on the health system.

He, therefore, charged all citizens to desist from such practices to keep their surroundings clean.

The holistic assessment was introduced seven years ago to form the basis for health performance assessment in all regions across the nation.

The primary objective of the regional holistic assessment is to provide a very brief but well-informed, balanced, all-involving and transparent assessment of the regions.

The Central Regional Health Directorate gave awards to some retirees for their dedicated services to the region and the country.

Source: GNA