GRNMA condemns intimidation, use of interns and students to break strike

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has warned of a complete nationwide shutdown of nursing and midwifery services starting Monday, June 9, unless what it describes as “threats and intimidation” by employers cease immediately.

In a statement issued on Thursday (5 June) and signed by President Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo and General Secretary David Tenkorang Twum, the Association criticised the government and some healthcare facility managers for deploying unlicensed students and rotation nurses to replace striking staff at emergency and outpatient departments.

The leadership accused health authorities—particularly within the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG)—of employing coercive tactics to undermine its ongoing industrial action, which began this week in protest over delayed implementation of the 2024 Collective Agreement on conditions of service.

“Calling on student nurses to work unsupervised at OPDs and emergency units is not only unethical, it is unsafe,” the statement said. “Rotation nurses are licensed but must still operate under supervision. Using them to replace striking professionals violates both professional standards and labour ethics.”

Full withdrawal looms

The GRNMA said it had initially offered a “generous roadmap” to allow the employer time to secure approval and begin implementing the collective agreement.

But instead of addressing the issues, the government had allegedly turned to “threats and inferior tactics.” The GRNMA also criticised attempts by some employers to insert anti-strike clauses into appointment letters and warned that such actions contravene Ghana’s Labour Act.

“If these actions persist, we will have no option but to direct all nurses and midwives to withdraw every form of service—not just OPD and emergency care,” the Association warned.

“This is to protect our members from burnout and unsafe clinical responsibility.”

Final ultimatum

According to the statement, all members are to continue their partial withdrawal of services until Saturday, 8 June. However, from Monday, 9 June, the Association is directing its members to completely stay away from work until further notice.

“For the avoidance of doubt,” the statement emphasised, “no nurse or midwife should report to work on 9th June.”