Originally slated for Thursday, June 26, 2025, the meeting was expected to resolve lingering issues surrounding the implementation of revised working terms for nurses and midwives.

However, its rescheduling to July 10 prompted frustration from the GRNMA, who expressed concern over the short notice and apparent disregard for prior commitments.

Speaking on Citi FM, Dr. Ayew Afriyie explained that the delay was unavoidable, attributing it to the absence of essential stakeholders.

“Given that these two ministers — Finance and Health — are not in town, the Minister of Health is in Brussels, I am told,” he stated.

“With the understanding from the Leader of Government Business and the Majority Leader, who says that the President has confirmed the way forward for a meeting between the Ministers of Health and Finance… that would be coming off once the President is back.”

He emphasised that the postponement was not intentional and appealed to the GRNMA’s leadership to trust in the goodwill of the process.

“I would want the nurses to give the benefit of the stage or the executives to show good faith to them, as they have always shown.”

Dr. Afriyie further stressed the legitimacy of the reasons behind the delay.

“I don’t think this was deliberate — especially as we are clear the Minister of Finance is in China, the Deputy Minister of Finance is in Abuja, and the Minister of Health is in Brussels with the President.”

Speaking on Adom FM’s Burning Issues with host Akua Boakyewaa Yiadom, Dr. Afriyie stressed that he supports a ban on illegal small-scale mining but does not advocate for a complete ban on all small-scale mining activities.

He argued that illegalities exist in multiple sectors, including the fisheries’ industry, yet no one is calling for a ban on fishing.

“If people are pushing for a total ban on small-scale mining due to illegal activities, why aren’t they also pushing for a ban on fishing, where illegal practices also take place?” Dr. Afriyie questioned.

“You don’t just impose a blanket ban on an industry because some are engaging in illegal activities.”

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The development according to him as a result of Parliament’s position on tax waivers in the country following public sentiments.

KATH has been in the news for the past days due to obstacles in clearing approximately 10 containers of tiles bearing a GH₵1.7 million import duty.

The situation has brought the renovation of the 70-year-old hospital being spearheaded by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to a standstill, amidst claims of insensitivity against the government.

Reacting to the development, Dr. Afriyie who doubles as a member of the Finance Committee said the issue of tax waivers is not peculiar to KATH.

In an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Friday, he stated the Committee made it clear to the Finance Ministry that, they will not support or subscribe to anything on tax waivers.

He explained their position was as a result of public sentiments and perception, hence parliamentarians are now withdrawn in approving tax waivers.

“Politicians have been bastardized because of the concept of tax waivers. There are several projects including 1D1F that require tax waivers, but they have not been attended to because of how people spin waivers.

“Last year, we made it clear to the Ministry of Finance that the public view is that the state is losing money and they justified that any waiver makes a lot of sense, but on the face of the public sentiment, we made it clear that we don’t subscribe and will not support it. So now if you go to the Finance Ministry, they will direct you to parliament,” he stated.

Acknowledging the Health Ministry has responded to the feelings of the masses, the Effiduase Asokore MP said the KATH situation could have been treated differently.

“The Finance Ministry could have treated this as a discretionary but the Ministry has failed to do so and that is why nothing is morning in the part of waivers,” he added.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Mr Agyemang condemned the MPs for not exhausting party structures to address their concerns but decided to come public with their demands.

To him, the MPs’ act was a display of dislike for Mr Ofori-Atta as there are some Ministers cum MPs who have come under intense pressure over non-performance amid public calls for them to be dismissed but there was no action from this group.

But Dr Ayew Afriyie who has been incensed by Mr Chairman’s comment said he went too far stating it was needless and baseless.

According to the MP, Mr Agyemang is a brother and good friend but his comments create an impression that he is pushing a certain agenda and has taken sides in the issue.

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“We are Ashanti MPs and so what? Why would he come and attack us for pushing the interest of our constituents and the masses? His comments are not justified. He can’t come and undermine MPs; Nobody has said Ken is incompetent and so he shouldn’t go along that tangent,” he warned on Ekosii Sen.

The MP added he expects Mr Agyemang to address the real issues on the ground if he wants to comment and not embark on a needless agenda.