The Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UPNMG) has urged President John Dramani Mahama to take immediate action on the critical challenges facing nurses and midwives.
The union expressed disappointment that these pressing issues were overlooked in his first State of the Nation Address.
In a press release, the UPNMG warned that Ghana’s healthcare system is at risk of collapse if concerns such as poor remuneration, delayed postings, and the mass emigration of skilled professionals are not addressed.
The union highlighted the severe challenges nurses and midwives face, including inadequate resources, deteriorating infrastructure, and a lack of housing and transportation support. Many professionals, it noted, are forced to work in difficult conditions, driving many to seek opportunities abroad.
“The government’s silence on these issues in its national address is alarming,” said John Agbenyeavu, UPNMG National Public Relations Officer. “Nurses and midwives are the backbone of healthcare, yet their struggles are being ignored.”
The UPNMG called for urgent measures to improve staffing shortages, ensure fair wages, and provide better working conditions. It also stressed the need for housing support, rural incentives, and the reinstatement of vehicle import duty waivers to ease transportation burdens. Direct engagement with unions, the group insisted, is essential to developing sustainable solutions.
Ghana’s healthcare system, the union argued, cannot function effectively without addressing these gaps.
“When nurses lack housing or fair pay, their ability to deliver quality care diminishes,” the statement said. “Other nations invest in their healthcare workforce—Ghana must do the same.”
The exodus of healthcare professionals remains a growing concern, with over 5,000 Ghanaian nurses and midwives reportedly leaving for Europe, North America, and the Middle East in 2024 alone in search of better opportunities.
The UPNMG called for swift action, warning, “The time for empty promises is over. Without support, Ghana’s healthcare system will crumble.”
