Our condition of service is not renegotiable – GRNMA Secretary

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has taken a strong stance. They will not return to the negotiation table regarding their conditions of service.

The association states that the terms were thoroughly negotiated and signed. However, these terms have not been implemented yet.

David Tenkorang, the General Secretary of GRNMA, spoke on JoyNews’ The Pulse show. He described the situation as deliberate inaction by the Ministry of Health. He emphasized that they are not asking for new demands but for enforcement of existing agreements.

“The reason is very simple,” he said. “We negotiated our conditions of service. It was signed, sealed, and delivered — but it is not seeing implementation.” He urged the Ministry of Health to approve these conditions for implementation.

During the interview, host Elton Brobbey mentioned a Tweet from the Ministry of Health's official account. The tweet suggested an “open-door policy” for dialogue with stakeholders like GRNMA.

Mr. Tenkorang firmly rejected this idea. “Discussion on what? We have negotiated; our conditions are not open for renegotiation,” he stated. He added that all they need is approval from the government for implementation.

He pointed out that while governments may change, the Ministry of Health remains constant as their employer. Therefore, there should be no delay in implementing agreed terms.

“I often do not subscribe to 'government this' or 'government that'. We deal with our employer,” he explained. “Just because a new government is in place doesn't mean previously agreed terms should be curtailed.”

Mr. Tenkorang stressed that their demands are reasonable and achievable. “We have had enough patience with this administration,” he said. “These demands can be met easily.”

He expressed disappointment over how nurses and midwives were treated after their dedication during COVID-19. “We stood firm and provided essential services,” he noted.

He also warned about a growing exodus of nurses and midwives from Ghana. Those who remain are making significant personal sacrifices.

“There is no ban on us traveling — we can also go,” he said. Many choose to stay and build Ghana instead. He concluded by stating that if they want to continue supporting national development, the government must act accordingly.