GRNMA’s Solomon Ajao defends strike, urges government to fulfill existing commitments
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (11 June), Ajao expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to patients nationwide but maintained that the industrial action is a last resort in the face of unfulfilled promises and worsening working conditions
Solomon Ajao, the Ashanti Regional Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), says the ongoing strike by nurses and midwives is not an act of malice but a necessary plea for the government to honour existing commitments enshrined in their collective agreement.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (11 June), Ajao expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to patients nationwide but maintained that the industrial action is a last resort in the face of unfulfilled promises and worsening working conditions.
“We ourselves are not happy that our patients will come to the hospital and there isn’t a nurse or midwife to assist,” he said. “But our intention is not to punish patients. We are only demanding our livelihoods—not luxury.”
Ajao explained that the allowances and adjustments being requested by GRNMA are not new demands but entitlements already enjoyed by other public sector workers or agreed to in previous negotiations.
‘No New Demands’
Dispelling circulating claims about extravagant requests, Ajao stressed that the list of items—such as book and research allowances, fuel, night, kilometric, and uniform allowances—are either already standard in the public service or are uniquely applicable to nurses and midwives due to their job demands.
He noted that rural nurses face especially harsh conditions, with many having to travel over 10km to health posts in underserved areas, often away from their families. Yet, they receive no rural incentive allowance.
“Someone travels from Oti Region to Accra every weekend just to be with their family. The sacrifices are enormous,” he said. “We’re not asking for 2 billion cedis in fresh money. We’re saying, “Honour what is already agreed.”
He also rejected a widely circulated document listing a “13th-month salary” as a new bonus, clarifying that it is an existing clause within their collective agreement for health workers—an annual payment, not a monthly benefit.
On Licensing Fees and Continuous Development
A major sticking point is the call for the government to absorb professional licence renewal and continuous development costs. Ajao argued that while nurses are willing to study and upgrade themselves, the financial burden should not rest solely on them, especially when the healthcare facilities benefit directly.
“It’s not about avoiding responsibility. It’s about shared responsibility,” he said. “The same Ministry of Health chasing us to renew our PINs can liaise with the regulatory body to absorb the cost.”
Mr Ajao urged the President to reconsider his administration’s stance and factor these long-standing demands into the upcoming mid-year budget.
“The employer agreed these were fair. We’re only asking for implementation.”
Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).
Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us:
X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3
LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5
Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.
YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra.
Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
#TheVoiceofOurLand
