The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has firmly rejected the government’s appeal for retired nurses and midwives to return to work during the ongoing nationwide strike.
Amid worsening staff shortages, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh on June 10, 2025, issued an emergency appeal for retired health workers to volunteer temporarily.
He also announced plans to release a list of operational facilities to help the public navigate limited services.
The GRNMA slammed the call to mobilize retirees as “laughable and insulting,” noting many of these nurses face age-related health issues that make them unfit for active duty.
They stressed that the real crisis stems from the government’s failure to implement the 2024 Collective Agreement not a shortage of personnel.
The nationwide strike, which began around June 4, 2025, has severely disrupted public health services, leaving many clinics understaffed or shut.
The GRNMA remains resolute, vowing to continue the action until the government fully honors existing agreements, rejecting any attempts to renegotiate settled terms.
Health officials propose using retirees to ease the impact of a healthcare strike, but the GRNMA criticizes the move as sidestepping government responsibilities and risking the wellbeing of retirees.
The Ministry of Health plans to publish a list of functioning health facilities during the strike, but the GRNMA insists the strike will persist until the full Collective Agreement including arrears and improved conditions is fulfilled.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
