The ongoing standoff over the unapproved Collective Agreement has reached a boiling point, as the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has intensified pressure on the government to act.
The Collective Agreement has become central to the growing tension between nurses and the Ministry of Health, as calls for immediate approval and implementation mount.
In an official statement released on June 3, 2025, following its earlier press conference on May 29, the GRNMA took aim at the government, condemning what it characterized as attempts to intimidate and mislead the public through divisive tactics and false messaging.
The Association dismissed these actions as ineffective and urged the Ministry of Health to redirect its efforts toward securing approval from the Ministry of Finance for the stalled Collective Agreement signed in May 2024.
“All nurses and midwives in Ghana are called upon to remain focused, resolute, and unperturbed because the fight we are on is a JUST one. Collective Agreements are sacred, and their implementation periods must end before they are renegotiated.”
Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA)
According to GRNMA, their leadership remains focused on one goal: ensuring that the Collective Agreement is approved and implemented without further delay.
The Association emphasized that the ongoing struggle is rooted in fairness and justice for Ghana’s nurses and midwives.
The leadership reaffirmed its previously issued directives, emphasizing that the ongoing withdrawal of Outpatient Department (OPD) services must now be extended to include emergency services as well.
This significant escalation marks a critical turning point in the nationwide industrial action, sending a clear signal to authorities that the healthcare system could face a total shutdown if their grievances continue to be ignored.
By intensifying the scope of their protest, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association is highlighting the urgency of their demand for the prompt approval and implementation of the long-delayed Collective Agreement.
GRNMA Warns of Looming Shutdown
Furthermore, the GRNMA instructed rotation and trainee nurses and midwives to comply with all outlined actions fully.
The Association warned that failure to follow these directives could lead to accountability issues, as these professionals work under the supervision of their seniors.
“You are hereby informed that withdrawal of OPD Services should go along with withdrawal of Emergency Services,” the statement noted, indicating that the industrial action will be comprehensive.
The leadership also extended its gratitude to the media for amplifying their concerns and making the frustrations of Ghanaian nurses and midwives known to the public.
“We thank our Members of Parliament (MPs) who have called on the employer to implement our Collective Agreement without any further delay and call on Parliament to pursue this advocacy to avert the total shutdown of nursing and midwifery services by 9 June, 2025.”
Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA)
The deadline looms large, and with it, the specter of a national health crisis. GRNMA has stated its position unequivocally: the failure to approve and implement the Collective Agreement by the given date will result in a total suspension of nursing and midwifery services across the country.
Widely seen as a decisive and final appeal for fairness, the Association urged all relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and Parliament, to act swiftly and responsibly to prevent a looming collapse of healthcare services.
Stressing the urgency of the situation, the leadership called for immediate action to address the grievances of Ghana’s nurses and midwives, who have long awaited the approval and implementation of their Collective Agreement.
The Association also took a moment to recognize the unwavering strength and cohesion of the nursing and midwifery community throughout the crisis.
Applauding their commitment and unity in the face of prolonged delays and institutional silence, the leadership encouraged members to remain vigilant, steadfast, and united.
They emphasized that only through continued collective effort and solidarity can the profession secure the justice and recognition it deserves.
The standoff, if unresolved, could plunge Ghana’s healthcare sector into deeper turmoil. As the June 9 deadline approaches, all eyes are now on the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, and Parliament to act decisively and avert a nationwide shutdown.
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