By Lord Fiifi | June 2025

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has initiated a nationwide strike, effectively bringing public healthcare in Ghana to a grinding halt. While media coverage often highlights the immediate disruption to services, a closer examination reveals a tangled web of unfulfilled promises, legal disputes, internal union politics, and high-stakes negotiations.

What’s really happening, and where do we go from here? Let’s break it down.

What Triggered the Strike?

At the core of this unrest is the government’s failure to implement the 2024 Collective Agreement. This crucial deal was meant to address:

• Unpaid allowances

• Salary adjustments

• Delayed staff postings

Despite being signed over a year ago, much of the agreement remains unfulfilled, leading to rising frustration among the nursing and midwifery workforce. After months of inaction, GRNMA declared a nationwide strike in June 2025.

The Legal Standoff: Injunction vs. Defiance

On June 5, the National Labour Commission (NLC) obtained a High Court injunction, deeming the strike illegal. However, GRNMA insists they have not been officially served with the injunction and therefore refuse to comply.

Their position? “No injunction, no end to the strike.”

Their rallying cry? “Aluta continua” — the struggle continues.

The Fallout: Health Services Disrupted

The repercussions of the strike have been immediate and severe:

• Emergency rooms are overwhelmed

• Outpatient services have been suspended

• Rural clinics are shut down

Patients across Ghana are bearing the brunt of this disruption, with maternal and child healthcare suffering the most.

Coercion or Strategy? Understanding GRNMA’s Power Moves

Some critics are questioning whether GRNMA is using its influence to coerce the government or simply practicing effective unionism.

Key Indicators of a Power Play:

1. Exclusion Of Other Union, GRNMA signed the 2024 agreement without consulting other recognized groups such as UPNMG and PNAG, leading to accusations of bad faith and legal breaches.
2. Dominant Numbers, Dominant Voice with a majority of nurses and midwives in its ranks, GRNMA wields significant leverage — and is not afraid to use it.
3. Assertive Messaging By dismissing rival unions as “minority groups,” GRNMA has bolstered its strongman image, raising questions about inclusivity and democracy within the sector.

Verdict: Political Manipulation or Strong Union Strategy?

There is no public evidence linking GRNMA’s actions to political party manipulation. Instead, we are witnessing

:• Aggressive union strategy

• Majority leverage

• Strategic disruption

However, their exclusionary tactics threaten the spirit of collaborative labor negotiations and risk isolating smaller unions that also represent frontline workers.

Government’s Response: From Panic to Engagement

Chief of Staff’s Directive (Feb 2025)

A memo nullified all public service appointments made after December 7, 2024, affecting hundreds of new nurses.

Health Minister’s Assurances

Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has met with GRNMA leaders to clarify that any recruits with financial clearance would be protected.

Ghana Health Service Circular

A directive to suspend recruits not yet on payroll has triggered backlash from GRNMA, which insists on due process first.

Clarifications and Dialogue

GRNMA later confirmed that no dismissals had occurred and acknowledged the government’s willingness to engage, even as the strike continues.

What Should Happen Next?

Here’s how both sides can move forward constructively:

For the Government:

• Convene a joint bargaining table with all nurse and midwife unions • Appoint an independent mediator to review the 2024 agreement • Create a clear implementation roadmap with deadlines and transparency

For GRNMA:

• Recognize and engage other nursing associations • Respect legal protocols when served with court injunctions • Balance advocacy with inclusivity to preserve credibility

Final Thoughts

The GRNMA strike is not merely a labor issue; it reflects deeper systemic challenges — from policy implementation delays to fractured union representation.

As healthcare hangs in the balance, the way forward lies not in courtrooms or public threats, but in collaborative, transparent negotiation that prioritizes the needs of health workers and the public they serve.

GHANA MUST WORK AGAIN