The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has announced a nationwide strike action from Tuesday, June 4 to Saturday, June 8, 2025.
The strike roadmap mandates that all nurses and midwives working in OPD services, public health services, ANC and PNC units, specialist clinics, and even emergency services suspend their duties during this period.
The decision has sparked nationwide conversation, drawing support from affiliated bodies and strong reactions from the public and the government. The strike aims to compel the Ministry of Health and the Government of Ghana to fulfill promises regarding the conditions of service for nurses and midwives.
Trainee Nurses Back the Strike
The Ghana Nurse-Midwife Trainees’ Association (GNMTA) issued a powerful statement on June 3, 2025, expressing unwavering solidarity with their mother union, GRNMA. In the letter signed by National President Adumbisa Pascal, the trainees highlighted that they would not stand idle in the face of what they termed “systemic unfairness.”
They emphasized the need for immediate implementation of the conditions of service, describing the strike as a necessary step toward justice and professional dignity. Quoting the proverb, “the falling of the yellow leaf serves as a warning to the green ones,” the GNMTA urged authorities to act before it’s too late.
They also expressed concern over how the strike would impact their clinical training, noting that the absence of experienced mentors due to the strike could hinder their academic and professional development.
Rotation Nurses Urged to Stay Away from Clinical Posts
In another strong statement, the Rotational Nurses and Midwives Association (RNMA) warned its members not to comply with a Ministry of Health directive asking interns to remain at post during the strike. The RNMA, under the leadership of President Ebenezer Boateng and General Secretary Mavis Akoto Frimpong, described the directive as a violation of Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) guidelines.
According to the NMC Standards for Clinical Practice, interns must operate strictly under the supervision of a qualified nurse manager or immediate supervisor. Remaining at post without this supervision is not only illegal but could jeopardize interns’ professional futures.
The RNMA emphasized that no intern should be working during the strike without proper oversight, and they should not be forced to serve under unsustainable or financially unsupported conditions. The association demanded urgent action from the Ministry of Health, including the release of financial clearance for both the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 intern cohorts.
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call to Government
The ongoing strike underscores the growing frustrations within Ghana’s healthcare sector. It is a call not only for better working conditions but for respect, recognition, and reform. As GRNMA leads this fight, they do so with the backing of their future counterparts—the trainees and rotational staff who are the next custodians of Ghana’s healthcare system.
The message is clear: healthcare professionals deserve better, and their collective voice will not be silenced
