The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has attributed the delay in implementing the revised conditions of service for the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to internal disputes within the association.
Chief Executive Officer of the FWSC, George Smith-Graham, made the assertion in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem.
Mr. Smith-Graham argued that the government had shown commitment throughout the negotiation process, explaining that the collective agreement was signed in May 2024 and immediately forwarded for implementation.
However, a legal injunction arising from internal wrangling within the union stalled the process.
“Before God and man, the fault squarely lies with them. But for their court case, we negotiated their conditions before others, yet theirs hasn’t been implemented.
“They went to court themselves to injunct the conditions of service they had negotiated—so how can anyone act when there is a court injunction?” he questioned.
He noted that checks with various teaching hospitals revealed none had budgeted for the new conditions of service due to the injunction.
Mr. Smith-Graham further clarified that the government’s proposal to shift implementation to 2026 was to create fiscal space for a full rollout.
An emergency closed-door meeting held on Monday, June 9, involving the Ministry of Health, GRNMA leadership, and other key stakeholders ended in a stalemate.
This came after the association rejected the proposed 2026 implementation timeline and continued to demand immediate action.