The immediate past President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Dr. Kwaku Asante-Krobea, has strongly criticised the Health Minister’s appeal for retired nurses and midwives to step in during the ongoing nationwide strike by members of the GRNMA.

Speaking on TV3’s News360, Dr. Asante-Krobea described the call as “an exercise in futility,” asserting that retired nurses and midwives are unlikely to heed the call.

“It saddens my heart that the Minister is mobilising retired nurses and midwives to come and hold the fort. It is a dangerous move to make,” he said. “It is a measure in futility, because the Minister should know that the retired nurses and midwives will not come. They are life members of the Association, and the Association takes care of them.”

His comments came in response to a public appeal made earlier in the day by Health Minister, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who urged retired health professionals to volunteer temporarily to help manage the deepening healthcare crisis caused by the strike.

At a press briefing in Accra, Mr. Akandoh stated:

“Given the seriousness of the situation, government appeals to public-spirited retired nurses and midwives to volunteer their services for a brief period pending the resolution of the impasse.”

However, Dr. Asante-Krobea dismissed the proposal, suggesting the Minister is out of touch with the realities on the ground.

“The Minister should not deceive Ghanaians. Does he know where they are? How many of them can he mobilise? And if a small number comes, can they fill in for the critical care nurses in ICUs across the country? Can they support surgeons in theatre?” he questioned.

Health Crisis and Accountability

Dr. Asante-Krobea placed the blame for the crisis squarely on the shoulders of the Health Minister, stating that the strike was a result of failed negotiations and broken promises.

“The fact that people are losing their lives and the conditions of patients are worsening is not in doubt, and we have to blame the Minister,” he said.

He urged Mr. Akandoh to take full responsibility and adopt a more pragmatic and collaborative approach to resolving the standoff with nurses and midwives.

“We are all agreeing that the withdrawal of services by nurses and midwives is consequential to a breakdown of negotiations. The Minister must understand that it is incumbent on him to do the bidding of the nurses and midwives to reach an amicable solution,” Dr. Asante-Krobea concluded.

Background

The GRNMA strike, which has disrupted services in major hospitals nationwide, stems from stalled negotiations over improved conditions of service. The impasse has placed immense strain on Ghana’s healthcare system, with calls mounting for the government to address the concerns of healthcare workers to avert further crisis.