Government has appealed to striking nurses and midwives to resume negotiations, acknowledging their critical role in healthcare while emphasizing the need for fiscal responsibility amid economic challenges.
Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem made the plea during a press briefing, recognizing the grievances of the over 120,000 nurses and midwives whose industrial action has strained the health sector.
“Our nurses are very, very critical to healthcare delivery, and we appreciate what they do,” Nyarko Ampem stated.
However, he stressed that the government must balance their demands with broader economic recovery efforts.
“We have all committed that in our resolve to reset the economy of this country, we must maintain a 1.5% primary balance surplus every year to bring our debt levels to sustainable levels,” he said.
“So it is important for us to manage expenditure.”
The government has proposed a structured approach to resolving the dispute, urging healthcare workers to return to talks while acknowledging budget limitations.
“We want to appeal to our revered nurses that we are willing to negotiate to settle them and the Ministry of Health to agree on a roadmap that will help us incorporate what can be accommodated in the budget for next year,” Nyarko Ampem said.
The strike, driven by demands for better working conditions and delayed benefits, has intensified pressure on the health system.
