President of the National Association of Registered Midwives (NARM) Ghana, Leticia Asaba Atiah has disclosed that the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) refused to be part of a meeting with four other unions, insisting that they own the ultimate power to bargain with the Health Minister.
After the GRNMA declared a strike on May 27, 2025 the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh called for a meeting on May 30 with five unions which included the GRNMA at the Ministry.
The unions which were supposed to be in the meeting with the Minister were; the GRNMA, National Association of Registered Midwives (NARM) Ghana, Professional Nurses Association, Psychiatric Nurses Association and Ghana Registered Midwives Association.
The meeting was intended to address the concerns and demands by the registered nurses and midwives and for government to implement the Collective Agreement signed in November 2024.
Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues, Sunday, June 8, 2025, Leticia revealed that GRNMA insisted they were not going to be part of a meeting with the Minister which included the four other unions.
She explained that upon her inquiry as to why the GRNMA were not yet seated for the meeting despite all four other unions present, she was informed that the Health Minister was holding a separate meeting with the GRNMA.
Read also: GRNMA’s strike did not follow due process; we’re not in support – Registered Midwives’ Association
While questioning such a move when representatives of the four other unions had been seated for long awaiting the Health Minister, Leticia Atiah said she was informed that the GRNMA demanded a meeting alone with the Minister because “they are the holders of the bargaining certificate so they will take the decision and sit with the Minister.”
“We did not see the GRNMA, we sat there till 4pm when the Minister came and apologized to us and said he will be with us shortly.
“We awaited till 5pm, the Minister was not coming so I went up and I met one of the guys and told him we have been waiting for the Minister for some time.
“He told me the GRNMA said they will not sit with the four other unions so they are with the Minister. I said why and he replied ‘they said you don’t have bargaining position; they are holders of the bargaining certificate so they will take the decision and sit with the Minister,’” Leticia narrated.
According to Madam Asaba Atiah, the actions of the GRNMA was “very bad and humiliating” as representatives from the other unions were agitated and wanted to leave without meeting the Minister.
Asaba Atiah noted that the Minister later confirmed to other unions why the GRNMA was not present, noting that they had requested a separate meeting.
More than 128,000 nurses and midwives across Ghana on May 28, 2025 declared a nationwide strike action over government’s continued delay in implementing their agreed conditions of service.
GRNMA President, Perpetual Ofori Ofori Ampofo outlined the roadmap for the planned industrial actions as follows:
- June 2–3, 2025: Nurses and midwives will wear red armbands and headbands in protest.
- June 4–8, 2025: Withdrawal of outpatient department (OPD) services.
- From June 9, 2025: Total withdrawal of all nursing and midwifery services nationwide.
The Association later announced a withdrawal of emergency services as part of their industrial action.
However, the National Labour Commission has secured an interlocutory injunction against the strike embarked upon by members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association.
