Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah has revealed that the government is struggling to meet the demands of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), even as the union’s July deadline looms.
The MP expressed deep concern over the silence and inaction of key government officials, particularly after nurses and midwives had agreed to suspend industrial action based on assurances from Parliament’s Health Committee in an interview on Channel One’s Newsroom on Tuesday, July 2,
“The nurses’ issue was one of the things that I personally asked that the minister be summoned to Parliament this week, but unfortunately, he did not address it,” Acquah said, visibly disheartened.
He explained that the Majority Leader had informed Parliament that President Mahama had requested a meeting with both the Minister of Health and the Minister of Finance to discuss the matter further.
The real concern, however, lies with the Finance Ministry.
According to Acquah, it appears the ministry is struggling to align with the financial implications of the nurses’ demands.
“What I am told is that the Finance Ministry is having some difficulty in coming to terms with their demands,” he admitted.
The Health Committee, of which Acquah is a member, had been instrumental in persuading the nurses to hold off on any further strike actions. But with no tangible results so far, the MP says their efforts—and credibility—are at risk.
“We, the minority on the committee, have said that we are not going to be part of it anymore because we have sacrificed our credibility and led the various negotiations to get the nurses to return to work,” he declared.
The GRNMA had previously issued a deadline of July for the government to meet their demands or risk renewed industrial action.
