The leadership of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has formally apologised to the Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, for recent public criticisms directed at his office, pledging a renewed commitment to constructive engagement with government.
The apology was delivered during a courtesy call on the minister in Accra on Wednesday, where discussions centred on improving collaboration between healthcare professionals and government to advance national health priorities.
Hon. Akandoh, who accepted the apology, stressed the importance of dialogue in resolving disagreements. He assured the Association of his ministry’s readiness to work closely with nurses and midwives, noting that their partnership is critical to strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system.
“Constructive engagement must be the path we take if we are to achieve lasting progress in healthcare delivery,” he said.
The minister highlighted several achievements by the current administration, including the integration of 13,500 nurses into the government payroll and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Training Fund to support capacity building.
He also pointed to the retooling of health facilities, payment of arrears on nursing training allowances and National Health Insurance claims, and the government’s absorption of half of admission fees for nursing training institutions.
Hon. Akandoh further pledged to ensure the successful implementation of the collective bargaining agreement with nurses, which is expected to improve conditions of service and enhance morale among health workers. He reaffirmed the government’s broader commitment to advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and called on stakeholders and the public to remain calm as the ministry works to address challenges in the sector.
The GRNMA leadership, represented by past and present executives, raised a number of pressing issues affecting healthcare professionals, including workload pressures, conditions of service, and resource constraints. They called for urgent interventions to improve service delivery and sustain the welfare of nurses and midwives across the country.
Those present at the meeting included former GRNMA President Alice Darkoa Asare-Allotey, immediate past President Dr Krobea Asante, current President Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, and General Secretary Dr David Tenkorang-Twum.
The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing dialogue with the Association, positioning the meeting as a turning point toward deeper collaboration in addressing Ghana’s health sector challenges.