The Ministries of Health and Finance are pleading with the striking Ghana Registered Nurses’ and Midwives’ Association (GRNMA) to call off the strike and return to the negotiation table.

According to the Ministries, the demand of the GRNMA when fully implemented in its current form will throw the 2025 budget out of gear.

At a joint news conference by the Ministries at the Presidency on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, the Minister of health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh decried the burden the economy will bear if the demands are implanted.

“We wish to draw attention to the fact that the conditions of service under reference are not captured in the 2025 budget and will completely throw the economy off-gear if implemented immediately in the manner it currently exists.

We are mindful of the serious economic consequences of un budgeted expenditure and want to avoid the economic slippages that led to hardships in the recent past” he stated

On his part, Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, plead that the implementation be done in 2026. He maintains that the current number of nurses numbering over On Hundred and Twenty Thousand (120,000) will have a dire consequences on the budget.

He says implementing the demand will require additional two billion cedis from the national budget.

Meanwhile government continues to engage the nurses through the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission as it has asked retired nurses and midwives to volunteer their services to health facilities that the strike has been implemented.

Government has extended invitation to retired nurses and midwives to volunteer their services at health facilities hard hit by the strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses’ and Midwives’ Association (GRNMA).

The call follows decision by the nurses not to call off their strike to allow negotiations by the Fair Wages and Salaries commission (FWSC).

At a joint news conference by the Health Ministry and Finance Ministry at the Presidency on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, the Minister of health, Kwabena Minta Akandoh the Ministry will continue to engage

“Yesterday, Monday, 9th June 2025, I invited Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to engage the GRNMA, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Health to deliberate on a roadmap for the successful implementation of the new Conditions of Service. At that meeting, the FWSC once again, in accordance with law, directed the GRNMA to call off the strike to allow negotiations to continue” he stressed

Mr Akandoh is thus calling on retired nurses and midwives to volunteer their services to the nation.

“Given the urgency of the situation and suffering of patients, government appeals to public-spirited, retired nurses and midwives to volunteer their services for a brief period pending the resolution of this impasse” he pleaded.

He was quick to add that government has outlined measures to mitigate the situation.
“The Ministry will publish a comprehensive list of facilities to complement facilities where nursing services are lacking and where patients can seek healthcare”

More than 145 retired ministers and their spouses from the Assemblies of God Church in the Greater Accra region have benefited from the third free health screening programme organised by the Lordina Foundation on Friday.

The quarterly initiative, held at the church’s Ringway branch, provides vital health consultation and free medication to ensure the continued well-being of the retirees.

First Lady Mrs Lordina Dramani Mahama initiated the programme through the Lordina Foundation following a pledge she made during a church event in September 2024 to provide regular health support for members of the Assemblies of God Retired Ministers and Spouses Association. Both the First Lady and her husband, President John Dramani Mahama, are members of the church.

Urologists, gynaecologists, dietitians, opticians, and general practitioners were among the specialists who handled the screening and consultations. Beneficiaries received laboratory tests covering essential indicators such as blood sugar levels, Hepatitis B, certain cancers, and prostate health. They were also given drugs prescribed by the medical officers.

Addressing the retirees, Mrs Mahama noted that the third edition built on the successes of the first and second screenings held in November 2024 and March 2025, respectively.

She urged participants to take advantage of the services offered and emphasised the importance of adhering strictly to prescribed medications for sustained health benefits.

The First Lady described the initiative as one of the ways the Lordina Foundation gives back to society and supports those who have dedicated their lives to serving others.

Mrs Mahama also took the opportunity to inform the beneficiaries about the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as Mahama Cares. She encouraged those with chronic non-communicable diseases to register with the programme when it becomes operational, explaining that it is designed to address health needs for conditions not fully covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and will provide preventive care at the community level.

Reverend Dr. Harry Insaidoo, President of the Assemblies of God Retired Ministers and Spouses Association, expressed profound gratitude for the initiative.

“To us, it was one of the biggest and the most exciting moments for us, as every three months, the doctors will thoroughly examine you, and thereafter, they will give you medication,” he stated. “Not only that, they will also offer pieces of advice on how to live a good and healthy life.”

He extended his appreciation to both Mrs Mahama and the President, calling the intervention “enormous.”

Mrs Mahama also thanked the dedicated medical team for their hard work and the leadership of the Assemblies of God church, particularly Reverend Benjamin Teye Tettey, Head Pastor of the Ringway Gospel Centre, for graciously providing the venue for the quarterly clinics.

President John Mahama has assured that his administration will consult widely and work with the Federation of Association of Ghanaian exporters in the implementation of the National Export Development Strategy.

The National Export Development Strategy is a national export development blueprint for significantly increasing Non-traditional Export revenue within 10 years, with total revenue of US$25.3billion by 2029.

According to President Mahama, the Association of Ghanaian Exporters has a critical role in achieving these feet. At the visit of the leadership of the Federation of the Association of Ghanaian exporters at the Presidency on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, President Mahama indicated that his administration will give the association a pride of place.

“Your association is so critical to Ghana’s economy. you are the ones who bring the dollars to the economy. And so, we have to give you pride of place in terms of facilitating your businesses” he said.

And that “we will work together to implement national export development strategy so that Ghana can become a net exporter instead of an importer”.

President Mahama further assured that government will work assiduously in prudently making the economy to ease the cost of doing business. He maintains that the appreciation of the cedi against major trading currencies is a sign of the economy turning around corner.

“We presented the budget in March and the budget was meant to make a correction of a lot of things that have gone wrong in the past. And so, trying to bring the macroeconomy back on track, reversing the 3.9 negative primary balance to a positive 1.5 primary balance by the end of the year. This has been one of the main target of the budget so its rained in a lot of government expenditure in order that we can bring the deficit down and create an environment that is conducive to business” he said.

President Mahama is however urging for improved standards of the product exported. “We have to look at the issue of stands in exporting our products and so strengthening the Ghana standards authority, in order that our products are safe” he admonished

The Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters has pledged its readiness in ensuring Ghana’s non traditional exports targets are achieved by 2030.

The association says Ghana’s Non-Traditional exports which currently stands at $3.6billion will reach $5billion by close of year.

President of the Association Davis Korboe at a visit to the Jubilee House on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 indicated that the association with of twenty-two members of different products are confident in achieving the target.

“We have set ambitious but achievable targets to increase Ghana’s non-traditional export revenues to over US$5 billion within the next two years and $10 billion by 2030” he said.

He added that the association stands ready to support the John Mahama administration to thrive.

“The Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters stands ready to work hand-in-hand with your administration in realizing our shared vision for agricultural transformation and export” he added.

The Association is however appealing to government for technical and financial supports. “Make the acquisition of credit less burdensome for farmers, processors and exporters through streamlined processes and reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks. Significantly reduce interest rates on agricultural loans to make them accessible to small and medium-scale farmer”

On technical and capacity building support the association is asking government to provide it with modern agricultural extension services with focus on climate-smart farming techniques as well as support farmer organizations and cooperatives to achieve economies of scale and invest in agricultural research and development to improve crop varieties and farming methods.

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has described the visit of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to the Jubilee House and a sign of progress and growth to the Mahama administration

According to him, the Courtesy call by the Asantehene speaks volumes and will inspire the administration to deliver on its promises.

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah delivering his welcome address at the visit of the Asantehene on Monday, June 2, 2025 reiterated President Mahama’s commitment to having an all inclusive government. He added that President Mahama has long advanced the course of Traditional Authorities and the role they play in governance.

“President John Mahama has always intimated that his administration will be an all inclusive and will allow chiefs and the traditional authority play a critical role in his administration” he said

Mr. Debrah added that “We are confident that your visit today will be a sign of great victories for the John Mahama led administration and bring progress to Ghanaians”.

The Asantehene’s visit on Monday is his first since John Mahama was sworn into office on January 7,2025