The Vice President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Samuel Alagkora Akologo, has criticised the government’s response to their ongoing demands, saying it reflects a lack of seriousness and prioritisation of nurses’ and midwives’ welfare.
Reacting to a claim by Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem that fully implementing the GRNMA’s proposed conditions of service would cost the government over GHS2 billion, Mr. Akologo said the figure is overstated and shows that the government has not properly assessed the union’s demands.
“What the minister said is nowhere near what we expected them to say,” Akologo stated. “They are quoting GHS2 billion, that if they are going to implement our conditions, it will require GHS2 billion. It goes to confirm that they haven’t even done proper costing of our conditions of service.”
He questioned what specific components of the proposed conditions could account for such a substantial cost.
He argued that key items such as fuel allowances apply only to a small number of senior nurses and midwives, while the proposed book and research allowance would benefit just a fraction of the membership — approximately 10,000 individuals.
The rural incentive allowance, he added, would only amount to 20% of the basic salary for nurses working in deprived areas.
“Is it this amount which is going to bloat the amount to GHS2 billion?” he asked. “There was clear demonstration that they don’t take our issues as a priority. If they were prioritising in the first place, it would have been captured in the budget.”
His comments come in the wake of a nationwide strike by nurses and midwives that has entered a critical phase, with healthcare delivery disrupted across the country. Long queues and service delays have been reported at major public health facilities, as the impasse between the government and GRNMA leadership continues.
The Health Ministry, however, maintains that it values the contributions of nurses and midwives, and is committed to engaging further to find a balanced and sustainable resolution.
Read also
