Labour consultant Austin Gamey has called on both government and striking nurses to soften their stances and return to the negotiation table, warning that the ongoing impasse risks endangering patients and eroding trust in the health system.
The nationwide strike by members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) escalated on Monday, June 9, 2025, after fresh talks with government representatives failed to yield a resolution.
At the meeting—convened by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and attended by officials from the Ministries of Health, Finance, and Labour—government negotiators cited budgetary constraints and proposed deferring any new payments to the 2026 budget cycle. The union rejected the proposal.
Speaking on TV3’s Ghana Tonight later that evening, Mr Gamey said that while the nurses have a “genuine case”, their approach risks undermining patient care.
“I empathise with the nurses — they have a valid concern,” he said. “But their approach must be tempered with concern for the clients — the patients. Because if anybody loses their life, who bears the responsibility?”
Having worked with the GRNMA in the past, Mr Gamey warned both parties against adopting rigid positions.
“Neither side should take entrenched positions in matters like this,” he said. “They must respect all the protocols. That’s why we have the National Labour Commission (NLC), to ensure proper resolution when disagreements arise.”
He noted that the NLC serves as a mediator and, if necessary, can invoke binding arbitration.
“As an essential service, this matter ought to be resolved within 72 hours. If voluntary mediation fails, the Labour Commission can initiate compulsory arbitration — and the outcome is binding, just like a Supreme Court ruling.”
Call for return to work
Mr Gamey appealed to the nurses to return to work while negotiations continue.
“I want to plead with them. They are fine professionals, not politicians,” he said. “Negotiation is not foreign — any form of engagement is negotiation. It’s not too late. They should resume work and allow the process to continue.”
Union stands firm on demands
Appearing on the same programme, GRNMA Vice President Samuel Alagkora Akologo insisted that the strike would continue until the demands in the signed 2024 Collective Agreement are fully implemented.
The agreement includes a 13th-month salary, fuel and medical allowances, uniform allowance, rural incentive allowance, and other benefits.
Mr Akologo said nurses and midwives had been treated unfairly compared to other health sector professionals and reaffirmed the union’s commitment to pursuing the matter.
Meanwhile, hospitals and clinics across the country continue to experience widespread disruptions to healthcare delivery as the strike enters its second week, with no immediate resolution in sight.
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