Ghana’s healthcare system is facing its most severe crisis in years as a nationwide strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) enters its seventh day, leaving hospitals understaffed and patients stranded. The strike, which began on June 4, 2025, was triggered by the government’s failure to implement a 2024 Collective Agreement that promised improved allowances, incentives, and working conditions for nurses and midwives .

With outpatient departments (OPDs) deserted and emergency services stretched thin, the Ministry of Health has made a desperate appeal to retired nurses and midwives to return to work voluntarily to mitigate the crisis . Meanwhile, negotiations between the government and GRNMA have stalled, with the association flatly rejecting any attempts to renegotiate terms already agreed upon .

This is not the first time Ghana has faced such a crisis. The GRNMA has a history of industrial actions when the government fails to meet its obligations. Below, we examine the roots of this strike, its impact on healthcare, and how past disputes compare to the current impasse.

About the Strike

The current strike stems from a year-long delay in implementing the 2024 Collective Agreement, which was signed by the GRNMA, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission . The agreement covers:

• Salary adjustments
• Improved allowances (housing, transportation, and risk allowances)
• Better working conditions (staff-to-patient ratios, medical supplies, and safety protocols)

Despite a court ruling in January 2025 clearing legal hurdles, the government has yet to act, citing budgetary constraints . GRNMA Vice President Samuel Alagkora Akologo expressed frustration after a failed June 9 emergency meeting, where officials proposed delaying implementation until 2026—a move seen as an attempt to avoid paying arrears .

“They wanted to reset the service calendar to erase arrears. This is not fair,” -Samuel Alagkora Akologo

Impact on Healthcare: Patients Bear the Brunt

1. Hospitals in Chaos

• Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana’s largest referral center, has seen its OPDs nearly deserted, with patients left unattended .
• Rural clinics are the worst affected, with some shutting down entirely .
• A nursing mother reportedly lost her twin baby at Koforidua Hospital due to lack of care .

2. Government’s Emergency Measures

In response, the Ministry of Health has:

• Appealed to retired nurses to volunteer temporarily .
• Promised to publish a list of functioning health facilities .
• Accelerated negotiations, though GRNMA insists it will not renegotiate the existing agreement .

History of GRNMA Strikes: A Recurring Crisis

This is not the first time Ghana’s nurses have resorted to industrial action. Past strikes include:

1. 2017 Strike: Delayed Salary Arrears

• Nurses protested unpaid salary arrears and poor conditions.
• Lasted two weeks before government released partial payments.

2. 2020 Strike: COVID-19 and Hazard Pay

• Amid the pandemic, nurses demanded risk allowances and PPE shortages.
• Lasted 10 days before a compromise was reached.

3. 2022 Strike: Unimplemented Promises

• GRNMA walked out after another failed Collective Agreement.
• Resolved after three weeks when the government committed to a timeline.

The 2025 strike is proving more severe due to:
✔ Longer delays (over a year since signing).
✔ Stronger resolve from GRNMA to avoid empty promises.
✔ Wider public support, as Ghanaians grow frustrated with healthcare neglect.