Labour Minister Dr. Rashid Pelpuo says the government is shocked and concerned by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association’s (GRNMA) decision to embark on a nationwide strike without engaging his office beforehand.
“Well, we are more than shocked. We are disturbed. We are worried that they could go into a decision of strike without much talk with us,” he said Monday night on JoyNews’ PM Express. “For a moment, you hear nurses are going on strike.”
The Wa Central MP said the strike, which has disrupted healthcare services across the country, was announced without adequate effort by GRNMA leadership to consult his ministry.
“I had a chat with the president of the Nurses and Midwives Association,” Dr. Pelpuo revealed. “I was complaining that they did not have the chance—the opportunity. They did not create the opportunity for me to have an interaction with them before the strike.”
The nurses and midwives are protesting a government proposal to defer implementation of their new conditions of service until 2026—a proposal the GRNMA has flatly rejected.
Dr. Pelpuo, however, believes the association acted too hastily, especially given the current economic situation and the administration’s willingness to engage with organised labour.
“I believe very strongly that if they started what they said they started a year ago or two years ago, this is a new administration,” he said.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure we have a stable economy, a stable society. We work with workers to get their full support for how we can run this country.”
The Minister noted that the strike undermines those efforts.
“I informed her that I wish we had had some conversation after she had had those kinds of conversations with other sector ministers or other stakeholders.”
Despite the impasse, Dr. Pelpuo said the government remains open to dialogue and a peaceful resolution. He emphasised that proper engagement is the only path forward.
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