Nurses and midwives call off nationwide strike
Striking nurses and midwives have officially suspended their nationwide industrial action, effective immediately, after several days of tense negotiations and widespread disruption to healthcare services.
The announcement was made today, June 13, 2025, by Mrs. Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
The decision follows intensive dialogue with government officials and heartfelt appeals from key stakeholders, urging a swift resolution in the interest of public health and patient care.
Speaking during an online press conference, the GRNMA President described the meeting as “very fruitful,” noting that it had paved the way for a peaceful resolution to the standoff with the government over the implementation of their 2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“In light of these positive developments, the GRNMA’s industrial action, which began on June 2, 2025, is hereby suspended pending the outcome of a follow-up meeting scheduled for June 26,” she announced.
She directed over 120,000 nurses and midwives to resume work on Saturday, June 14, 2025, and assured members that the leadership remains committed to ensuring the full implementation of the agreement.
The strike, which escalated into a full-scale withdrawal of services by June 9, had crippled public healthcare nationwide.
Emergency rooms were overwhelmed, critical treatments were delayed, and patients were left stranded, sparking widespread concern over preventable deaths and healthcare breakdowns.
At the heart of the dispute was the delayed implementation of the 2024 Collective Agreement, which includes key benefits such as the 30-month allowance, rural incentives, fuel, and uniform allowances.
However, government officials raised concerns about the fiscal impact of the package, estimated at over GH¢2 billion, arguing that its immediate rollout would derail efforts to maintain a 1.5% primary budget surplus.
Instead, the government proposed deferring implementation to the 2026 budget.
The suspension of the strike has brought a wave of relief to patients and families across the country, many of whom had been struggling to access basic care during the industrial action.
However, the GRNMA has warned that while services are resuming, it will closely monitor the government’s compliance with the agreed-upon roadmap.