GRNMA suspends nationwide strike after “fruitful” talks with Parliament’s Health Committee

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has suspended its nationwide strike following what it described as “very fruitful” deliberations with Parliament’s Select Committee on Health on Thursday, 12 June 2025.

The association announced in a statement on Friday morning, 13 June, that it had decided to call off the industrial action after receiving numerous appeals from the public, patients, and key stakeholders, including Parliament.

The strike, which began on 2 June, had disrupted health services nationwide, particularly after GRNMA members fully withdrew outpatient and emergency services on 9 June.

“The engagement held with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and other interested parties…was very fruitful and has paved the way for an amicable resolution of the impasse,” the association stated.

The action was initially characterised by the symbolic wearing of red armbands but escalated into a full-scale service withdrawal as frustrations mounted over delays in implementing a Collective Agreement signed with the government in May 2024.

GRNMA called on all nurses and midwives to return to duty on Saturday, 14 June, while indicating that a follow-up meeting with Parliament had been scheduled for 26 June to finalise a clear roadmap for the agreement’s implementation.

Strike was not politically motivated

Addressing public discourse around the strike, GRNMA strongly rejected claims that the industrial action had political undertones.

“We do not take delight in seeing our patients suffer. However, we cannot take good care of others when the system does not take good care of us,” the statement emphasised.

It further condemned what it described as “misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda” surrounding the strike, reiterating the association’s non-partisan stance.

“In its 65 years of existence, the GRNMA has never aligned with any political party in Ghana. Rather, it has worked with every government since 1960 in building a stronger and more resilient health system,” the statement noted.

Appreciation and assurance

The GRNMA extended its appreciation to the Chairman, Ranking Member, and members of Parliament’s Health Committee for what it described as a “clear and structured intervention”. It also thanked its members for their solidarity and discipline throughout the period of the strike.

“We thank the press sincerely for carrying our voices to Ghanaians and the whole world. We encourage continued professionalism to protect the public from misinformation,” it added.

The association reiterated its commitment to fighting for the full implementation of the 2024 Collective Agreement and assured members that it would remain steadfast in its advocacy for improved working conditions.

“The GRNMA will not rest until the terms of the Collective Agreement are fully implemented.”