GRNMA’s decision to call off strike action, a great sigh of relief for all

The Ghanaian Times joins the rest of the nation in heaving a collective sigh of relief following the decision by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRN­MA) to suspend its nationwide strike, which began on June 2, 2025.

For 10 long days, public health facilities across the country were overwhelmed by the absence of nurses and midwives, leaving countless patients stranded and help­less. Tragically, this impasse is reported to have led to the loss of human lives, highlight­ing the grave implications of unresolved labour disputes in the health sector.

The industrial action was grounded in the GRNMA’s de­mand for the implementation of a Collective Agreement on conditions of service, signed with the government in May 2024.

Though the agreement was originally slated for implementation in July 2024, a legal challenge by a splinter group delayed its enforce­ment until January 2025, when the High Court cleared the path.

Despite this legal clarity, government’s inability to im­plement the agreement, citing fiscal constraints sparked frustration among GRNMA members and the govern­ment’s assurances to include the agreement in the 2026 budget did little to ease their disappointment.

Nonetheless, we com­mend the GRNMA for eventually choosing the path of dialogue, especially in light of the suffering endured by patients during the period of the strike.

Their decision to suspend the action followed fruitful engage­ments with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and other key stakeholders. The Association’s own statement acknowledged the constructive nature of these discussions, which paved the way for a possi­ble resolution to the impasse.

We equally applaud the swift intervention by Parliament and other stakeholders, which helped prevent what could have esca­lated into a full-blown national health crisis.

It is our hope that the roadmap agreed upon during these discussions will be hon­oured diligently by all par­ties. This event should serve as a wake-up call to govern­ment and all policy actors to proactively address the needs and concerns of public sector workers.

Delayed implementation of negotiated agreements not only undermines trust but also jeopardises essential pub­lic services. A robust system for timely execution of such agreements must be insti­tutionalised to avoid future occurrences.

While celebrating the resolution, The Ghanaian Times is deeply concerned by the conduct of some media practitioners during the strike. Irresponsible reportage, mis­information, and overtly partisan commentary only served to inflame tensions and distort the public discourse.

We strongly align with the GRNMA’s concerns about the role of certain media houses in spreading “misinformation, dis­information, and propaganda” during the crisis.

The media, as the fourth estate of the realm, has a con­stitutional duty to inform and educate the public truthfully and responsibly. We therefore call on the Ghana Journalists Associ­ation and the National Media Commission to investigate these lapses and take appropriate ac­tion to uphold media integrity.

Let this incident not be just another labour dispute that fades from memory. It must be a call to action, one that prioritises dialogue, fulfils agreements, and strengthens the institutions that hold our nation together.