The Ministry of Health has entered into closed-door negotiations with the leadership of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and other major stakeholders in a bid to end the ongoing nationwide strike that has severely disrupted healthcare services.
The outcome of the meeting, which commenced on Monday, June 9, is expected to be pivotal in determining whether the industrial action will be called off or prolonged in the days ahead.
Speaking to Citi News ahead of the discussions, the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Tony Goodman, expressed guarded optimism about a possible breakthrough.
“This meeting is on what the minister has been advocating for, the past few days, that is, for us to come back to the table for discussion. Thankfully, the leaders of the association agreed to the plea and are here.
“We hope that by the time we finish this meeting, there will be a fruitful resolution for them to call off the strike. Their coming here is a positive signal because when we called them, they may have decided not to come, but they are here, which means they saw reason in what the minister had proposed,” he stated.
The strike, declared by the GRNMA over unfulfilled demands and grievances related to working conditions and allowances, has brought health services in public facilities to a standstill. Many hospitals have been forced to drastically scale down operations, leaving patients—especially those in critical need—without medical care.
As negotiations continue, there is heightened public expectation for a swift resolution to restore normalcy in healthcare delivery across the country.
