GHS Boss Appeals to Nurses and Midwives to End Strike for Patients’ Sake
Accra, Ghana – June 9, 2025
Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has made a heartfelt appeal to members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to reconsider their ongoing strike, citing the impact on patient care and potential risks to lives.
Addressing journalists on Monday, Professor Akoriyea acknowledged the legitimacy of the nurses’ concerns over unfulfilled conditions of service under their 2024 Collective Agreement but called for a return to duty while negotiations continue.
“Let me take this opportunity to call on our sisters and brother nurses to come back to work,” he said.
Using a relatable example, Professor Akoriyea highlighted the urgency of health services:
“Just like I told one pregnant nurse yesterday, if you come to the hospital now to give birth because your time is due, what are you going to say? Will you say, ‘I won’t deliver today because we are on strike?’”
He stressed that many health conditions are time-sensitive, and the continued industrial action may have life-threatening consequences, especially for patients in emergency situations.
Ongoing Impact
The strike, which began on June 4, 2025, has left many health facilities across the country understaffed, with critical services suspended and patients left stranded. Maternal health services, outpatient care, and some surgical procedures have all been disrupted.
Professor Akoriyea joined the call made earlier by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, urging all stakeholders to resume constructive dialogue and find a resolution that meets the needs of healthcare professionals while safeguarding public health.
GRNMA’s Stance
The GRNMA has maintained that it will not return to the negotiation table over already agreed terms and insists the strike will continue until the government implements the 2024 Collective Agreement, which includes allowances, incentives, and improved working conditions.
Despite the mounting pressure, the union remains steadfast in its demands, stating that only action, not promises, will end the strike.
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