Political Scientist Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato has criticized the government for its handling of the recent nationwide strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), describing their approach as “insensitive and lazy.”
Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints, Dr. Zaato argued that government could have made room to meet the demands of the nurses if it truly cared about their welfare.
“The government was insensitive and lazy by not creating fiscal space for nurses,” he said.
While acknowledging the economic challenges Ghana is facing, Dr. Zaato urged nurses to consider compromising for the greater good — but insisted that government must do better.
“We will beg them to listen to the government and see how they can compromise… They are not the only people feeling the hardship in Ghana. But it is clear that there isn’t fiscal space.”
He pointed out that the same effort the Finance Ministry applied in resolving the UTAG standoff — by assuring payment of book and research allowances — could have been replicated for nurses.
Adding to the pressure, immediate past president of the GRNMA, Kwaku Asante Krobea, has laid blame for patient deaths during the strike at the feet of the Health Minister.
“The death being recorded as a result of the ongoing strike is on the head of the Health Minister,” he stated in a separate interview on TV3.
He accused the Minister of failing to take proactive steps to resolve the crisis.
“The solution to the impasse lies in his bosom… Instead of his posturing, he should rather focus on negotiating with the nurses. Even retired nurses are in support of the strike and won’t return to duty.”
