The Greater Accra branch of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has denied harbouring personal grudges against Health Minister Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, even as tensions continue over staff welfare and the recent Ridge Hospital assault controversy.
Greater Accra GRNMA Chairman Jefferson Asare clarified that the association respects the minister’s authority but insisted that nurses cannot remain silent in the face of persistent challenges.
“GRNMA – we do not have quarrels with the health minister. He is our minister and will remain our minister, and we will cooperate with him to make the health system better”
Jefferson Asare, Greater Accra GRNMA Chairman
He, however, stressed that silence was not an option when nurses were left frustrated and demoralised. According to him, the most pressing issue is that nurses across the country have been left unpaid for the past eight months.
“Nurses have been working without salaries. These are nurses posted all over the country, not of their own will, but by the system. They have to rent, pay for transportation to work, and yet for eight months, they have not been paid. And at the same time, we are calling for quality healthcare in Ghana. This is an irony”
Jefferson Asare, Greater Accra GRNMA Chairman
The association has demanded urgent intervention from the government to restore confidence among frontline workers. The controversy over the Ridge Hospital incident continues to fuel debate.
Minister’s Conduct Under Scrutiny
Former Health Minister Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye criticised Kwabena Mintah Akandoh’s approach following the alleged assault on a nurse by social media activist Ralph St. William.
A video circulating on social media captured the minister exchanging pleasantries with the activist shortly after meeting hospital authorities, raising questions about the signal it sent to health staff. Dr. Okoe-Boye warned that the warmth displayed risked undermining staff morale.
“The interaction that went on between Akandoh and the perpetrator in the case – the warmth was too much,” he remarked, explaining that in situations where staff felt intimidated or attacked, ministers were expected to demonstrate solidarity through their actions.
“You are the minister, and you are their father. We are not saying you should be antagonistic to Ralph; we are saying you should show concern through your actions,” he added. The former minister said the incident created doubts among staff about whether their leader stood firmly by their side.
Beyond criticism of the minister’s response, Dr. Okoe-Boye condemned Ralph St. William’s actions at the emergency department, describing them as indefensible.
“We are talking about an ER where failure to administer a particular intervention at a particular time, as a result of disruption, can lead to the death of a person. The case of assault is another matter, but just the mere disruption at the ER is like misbehaving in a sanctuary or holy place. That alone is condemnable”
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, Former Health Minister
The former health minister added that in situations of dissatisfaction, patients or relatives must follow due process by reporting to the officer in charge, rather than disrupting operations. He insisted that even if no physical assault took place, the mere disruption of emergency services warranted strong disapproval.
Ministry’s Position
The Ministry of Health has maintained that its ongoing committee investigation found no evidence of physical assault during the Ridge Hospital incident.
Officials insist that the minister’s courtesy gesture towards Ralph St. William did not reflect a bias, but was part of the decorum expected of a public officer. The Ministry has also assured that the welfare and safety of health workers remain a top priority.
While the Ridge controversy has dominated headlines, the GRNMA’s concerns highlight a deeper crisis within Ghana’s healthcare system: unpaid wages, inadequate resources, and morale gaps.
With frontline workers going unpaid for months, the association argues that quality healthcare cannot be demanded without first addressing the basic needs of the providers.
Mr. Asare summed up the sentiment: nurses are committed to serving the nation, but their voices must matter in shaping policies that affect their lives and the health of patients.
READ ALSO: Gyedu-Blay Ambolley Believes Technology Limits Creativity
