The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRMA) has stated categorically that the claims by the government that implementation of the Conditions of Service (CSO) will throw the economy of Ghana off gear is not only an insult but also an unjustifiable appeal.
GRNMA maintained that nothing will make them return to work until all their concerns and signed CSO are implemented by the government.
Ghana’s Ministry of Health has implemented interim measures to mitigate the impact of the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has appealed to retired nurses and midwives to volunteer temporarily and announced a list of facilities with available nursing services will be published.
He stated that the government remains committed to dialogue with nurses for a mutually acceptable outcome.
He also revealed that the CSO was not captured in the budget, and if implemented, it will throw the economy off gear.
But responding to the appeal, Acting National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of GRNMA, Mr. Philimon Agyapong, said members are extremely disappointed in the commentary by the Health and Finance Ministers.
He disclosed that the striking nurses and midwives are also disappointed that the minister called on retired nurses and midwives to volunteer their services instead of finding a solution to the concerns raised.
Mr. Agyapong said the Health Minister’s remarks suggest a lack of interest and concern in the issues raised, and he wonders if authorities value the services of nurses and midwives.
“We are sad and shocked at the remarks made by the health and finance ministries. It is most surprising that the two ministers came out to tell Ghanaians that our issues, which we have been discussing with them, were not captured in the budget. What this simply means is that they don’t regard the services of nurses and midwives. They don’t respect us. Our members are furious over the appeal to retired nurses to come and offer voluntary nursing. The retired nurses are even more furious than we are and asked us to tell the government not to use them as mitigation factors but to concentrate on solving the problem.’’
The deputy finance minister, who claimed that our COS would cost the nation Ghc 2 billion, should double-check his figures. If the amount he mentioned is correct, we will be very excited. The COS differs for each category of nurses. Only a portion of COS will be a universal benefit for nurses and midwives, with the majority of benefits distributed based on the category of nurses.
He revealed that when the leadership informed members that our COS could only be implemented in 2026, members nearly assaulted [them], wondering if [they] had no balls in standing up for what was right, and so the bottom line is that they want us to continue with the strike until our COS are implemented.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
