Nurses Moving Overseas Are The Most Experienced Ones- GRNMA President Cries Out

President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo has lamented the continuous migration of trained nurses overseas for greener pastures.  

She explained that most of the nurses who have terminated their contracts and those planning to resign at their various health facilities in Ghana are the most experienced ones who could have been of great help in training newly recruited nurses.

Madam Perpetual suggested that there is a need for stakeholder engagement on how to resolve the issues that are pushing out most of the nurses.

Ms. Ofori-Ampofo indicated that the nurses want an environment that will help them in their career progression, further studies, and adequate remuneration.

She, therefore, appealed to the government to intervene in the situation to stem the exodus.

Madam Perpetual speaking on the issue in an interview monitored by The Ghana Report on TV3 said, “Indeed, it is a worrying trend that we are all experiencing, our nurses are leaving the shores of Ghana and they are seeking to work in better work environments and earn better salaries”.

“It is their right and we cannot stop them but the truth of the matter is that as much as they are leaving it is having a toll on health service delivery in Ghana”.

“The truth is those that are leaving are those that are well experienced, with many years of experience. Even if we are going to recruit new personnel these are the very people who would have trained them, so their leaving is a big issue.”

She added “It is about time we really sit as stakeholders to discuss this matter thoroughly. From where we sit, we know that we cannot stop them because it is their right to migrate but it is about time we put in some innovation in terms of motivational packages that will really attract or help to retain them in the country”.

“There are some nurses who for various reasons will never leave Ghana but the majority are still nurturing the idea of leaving the shores of Ghana, it is all because they want to have better opportunities for career progression, they want to pursue some academic venture, looking for higher salaries or better conditions of service.”

It will be recalled that the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service Dr. Emmanuel Tinkorang-Twum in a statement recently bemoaned the number of nurses abandoning their profession to travel abroad.

He disclosed that current data shows that 304 health workers, including doctors and nurses, have applied for leave without salaries.