The Government of Ghana has directed the Ministry of Finance and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to urgently develop a roadmap for the smooth implementation of new conditions of service for nurses and midwives, as a nationwide strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) enters its third week.

The directive comes in response to industrial action declared by over 128,000 nurses and midwives across the country on May 28, 2025, in protest against the government’s continued delay in implementing their negotiated conditions of service. The agreement was reached in 2024 under the former Akufo-Addo administration.

In a media address at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, June 10, Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh reaffirmed government’s commitment to resolving the impasse through constructive engagement.

“Government remains committed to the needed engagements that will lead to the approval and implementation of the new Conditions of Service for nurses and midwives,” he stated.

“Accordingly, government has directed the Ministry of Finance and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to, as a matter of urgency, lead the development of a roadmap to ensure a smooth implementation of the process,” he added.

While assuring stakeholders of government’s willingness to engage, Mr. Akandoh noted a key hurdle: the nurses’ demands are not captured in the 2025 national budget, raising concerns over fiscal sustainability.

“We wish to draw attention to the fact that the conditions of service under reference are not captured in the 2025 budget and will completely throw the economy off-gear if implemented immediately in the manner it currently exists,” he warned.

The Minister emphasized that unplanned expenditure of such magnitude could destabilize the country’s economic recovery efforts and risk repeating the hardships experienced in the recent past.

“Government is cautious of the serious economic consequences of any unbudgeted expenditure and wants to avoid economic slippages,” he said.

Mr. Akandoh disclosed that, since assuming office, he has personally held several meetings with the leadership of the nursing and midwifery associations to find a sustainable path forward.

“I engaged the leadership of all nurses and midwives associations within the health sector on May 30, 2025, to address their challenges and discuss the subsequent roadmap leading to the implementation of the new Conditions of Service,” he revealed.

Despite these efforts and a court injunction secured by the National Labour Commission directing the GRNMA to resume work, the strike remains in full effect, severely impacting health services across the country as patients are left unattended.

The GRNMA has remained resolute in its position, stating it will only return to work when the new conditions of service are fully implemented. The association argues that the government has had ample time to honor its commitments since the agreement was signed in 2024.

As pressure mounts on government to resolve the crisis, health experts and civil society organizations have urged swift, transparent, and fair action to prevent further loss of lives and ensure the sustainability of Ghana’s healthcare system.