As the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association’s (GRNMA) strike persists, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission(FWSC) has given a breakdown of the issues.
The GRNMA strike began on June 4, 2025, due to the government’s delay in implementing the 2024 Conditions of Service agreement, which includes unpaid allowances and improved working conditions.
The National Labour Commission(NLC) has declared the strike “illegal”, citing the association’s failure to comply with legal procedures under the Labour Act.
The NLC has since directed the nurses and midwives to resume work, but the GRNMA insists on continuing the strike until their demands are met.
Impact: The strike has severely impacted healthcare delivery in Ghana, with patients struggling to access essential medical services.
– Collective Agreement signed the Conditions of Service of the GRNMA were agreed upon on May 20, 2024.
– Follow-up for implementation The FWSC wrote to the Ministry of Finance on July 1, 2024, for implementation of the collective Agreement of the GRNMA.
– Court case: However the implementation process was put on hold due to a court case filed by the Psychiatric Nurses Association, a member of the GRNMA.
– Internal Rift solved: The GRNMA informed the FWSC in February 2025, that the case had been resolved through an Alternative Dispute Resolution.
– Budget Issue: The government’s budget preparation was already at an advanced stage at the time the GRNMA resolved its internal issue.
– Government’s Challenge : The government faces challenges in implementing the conditions of service due to budget limitations.
– Appeal: The FWSC on behalf of the government team has appealed to the GRNMA to call off its strike to facilitate dialogue.
– Illegal Strike: The National Labor Commission (NLC) declared the strike illegal, citing the association’s failure to comply with legal procedures under the Labour Act.
– Impact: Despite this, the association proceeded with the strike, severely impacting healthcare delivery nationwide.
– Way forward: FWSC held a crucial meeting with GRNMA on Monday, June 9, 2025 at the Ministry of Health to address the ongoing strike and find a lasting solution to the concerns of the striking members.
– Prioritising Dialogue: During the meeting, the FWSC appealed to the GRNMA to call off the strike, emphasizing the need for continued dialogue to resolve the impasse.
The FWSC is urging stakeholders to prioritize dialogue and cooperation to resolve the impasse.