By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, July 3, GNA– The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has condemned “draconian measures” by the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) against nurses and midwives who participated in a recent industrial action.
The GRNMA has vowed to take decisive action, including further strikes, if CHAG proceeds with its intended sanctions.In a press statement dated signed by the President
Mrs. Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo and General Secretary Dr. David Tenkorang-Twum, the GRNMA stated its attention was drawn to a CHAG letter dated June 30, 2025, titled, “REQUEST FOR LIST OF STAFF” and widely distributed to CHAG member facilities.
The GRNMA alleged the circular, from an executive briefing with CHAG facility heads, aimed to gather data on striking nurses and midwives with punitive intentions.
According to the GRNMA, CHAG’s proposed measures include all newly posted staff who participated in the strike should be sent back to CHAG for reposting; staff in management positions should be demoted; all HODs who participated in the strike should be taken off; all allowances for May for those who participated in the strike should not be paid to them.
Other special benefits such as responsibility allowance, accommodation, and vehicle should be withheld; promotions for those due should be delayed for the year, and a communication to the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to withhold salary for one week for those on the Government of Ghana payroll who participated in the strike.
The GRNMA condemned these punitive measures against the nurses stating they “seek to undermine our right to peaceful assembly and protest”.
The Association reminded CHAG that all nurses and midwives working in their faith-based health facilities are paid by the government of Ghana, implying a disregard for their welfare by CHAG.
The GRNMA further asserted that Section 10 (d) of the Labour Act, 2003 (ACT 651), granted workers the right to join a Trade Union of their choice, which includes participating in all activities of the Trade Union, including industrial action.
They labelled any punishment for participating in a collective action rolled out by their Union as “unfair labour practice”.
The GRNMA highlighted that the same law placed a responsibility on the employer to give special treatment or attention to the concerns of these category of workers.
They stressed that the law did not provide for any employer to sleep on their responsibility and expect the worker to respect such prohibitions, adding that the law is never one-sided and is fair to all parties.
The GRNMA assured all nurses and midwives in CHAG facilities who participated in the strike that the leadership would pursue the necessary legal actions if CHAG took any actions on their decision to undertake industrial action.
“The leadership of the Association will take CHAG on if they touch any nurses or midwife working in their facilities and we will use every legitimate means not hesitate to lay down our tools in support of our colleagues working in those facilities,” the statement said.
The Association urged all nurses and midwives working in CHAG facilities to remain calm and go about their duties as required, as leadership continues to fight for the implementation of their Collective Agreement and protecting their rights as workers.
GNA
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong