Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, a political scientist at the University of Ghana, has slammed the Health and Labour Ministers for mishandling the recent strike by nurses and midwives.
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He described the incident as their first major leadership test, and one they failed.
“This was the first test for both the Health Minister and the Labour Minister, and they bombed,” Dr. Zaato said bluntly on The Key Points on TV3, Saturday, June 14. “Their response was amateurish and insensitive. Government showed no empathy toward the nurses’ concerns.”
He criticized the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, for suggesting that retired nurses be recalled to work during the strike, calling it a “comedy of errors.”
“The retired nurses are not in the best physical or mental condition to step into such a crisis. It was bound to fail,” Dr. Zaato noted.
Retired Nurses Plan Was ‘Futile’ – Dr. Asante-Krobea
Echoing similar sentiments, Dr. Kwaku Asante-Krobea, former President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), called the minister’s proposal an “exercise in futility.”
He explained that most retirees are not in good health and cannot meet the physical demands of frontline hospital work.
“I was surprised the Minister thought this could be a viable strategy. It would have been a disaster,” he said.
Health Minister Akandoh, however, defended the appeal, stating at a June 10 press conference that the move was a temporary measure meant to sustain essential services while negotiations continued.
GRNMA Defends Non-Partisan Stance
Amidst public debate, GRNMA General Secretary Dr. David Tenkorang-Twum clarified that the strike was not politically motivated.
“We are not aligned with any political party. GRNMA has existed for over 65 years and worked with every government,” he said.
The association had earlier decried the disinformation and propaganda surrounding its industrial action. In a statement issued June 13, GRNMA said their actions were driven by the government’s failure to implement the 2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“We cannot take care of others when the system does not take care of us,” the statement emphasized.
Strike Timeline and Suspension
The GRNMA began its industrial action on June 2 with symbolic protests, escalating to a full withdrawal of services on June 9. More than 128,000 nurses and midwives participated nationwide.
A court injunction from the National Labour Commission (NLC) declared the strike illegal and directed both parties back to the negotiation table.
Following a fruitful engagement with Parliament’s Select Committee on Health, GRNMA announced the suspension of the strike on Friday, June 13, pending a final meeting on June 26, 2025.
“We urge our members to resume their shifts starting Saturday, June 14. We will not rest until the Collective Agreement is fully implemented,” the statement added.
GRNMA expressed gratitude to Parliament, the media, and the public for their support and solidarity throughout the strike.
