By Godfred A. Polkuu
Bolgatanga, Oct. 9, GNA – Leadership of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), has directed its members to stay off the intended strike action by Organized Labour, scheduled for October 10.
Organized Labour served notice to embark on a nationwide strike action to press its demand for an outright ban on small-scale mining as a measure to halt the illegal mining menace in the country.
Its decision after a September 30 deadline to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was arrived at, after a meeting by the Labour Unions in Accra.
Organized Labour among other demands after the deadline, called on President Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency over illegal mining popularly known as ‘galamsey.’
However, the GRNMA in a communiqué to members, jointly signed by its President, Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo and Dr David Tenkorang-Twum, the General Secretary, said the decision was taken after a National Council emergency meeting.
In the communiqué, the leadership of the Association emphatically stated that “The GRNMA and its members will not embark on the strike action by Organized Labour and therefore directs that all nurses and midwives stay at the post and continue delivering safe and quality health services to the good people of Ghana.”
The communiqué solidarized with member Trade Unions and Associations under Organized Labour in the fight against ‘Galamsey’ and indicated that it would continue to advocate for stronger national interventions to curtail the ‘Galamsey’ menace in the country.
Following the decision by the GRNMA to stay off the intended strike action, some members of the Association took to social media platforms to express their frustrations about the leadership’s decision to stay off the strike.
Mr Martin Maabobra Anoyang, a member of the Association, questioned if the decision by leadership truly reflected the sentiments of members, “How can we stand by and do nothing on such a critical issue as environmental degradation and the pollution of our water bodies? Are we going to remain passive while threats to our very existence persist?”
He said GRNMA members, as key stakeholders in healthcare delivery, should lead the intended strike to compel the government to ban reckless mining practices and initiate a national dialogue on a sustainable way forward.
“Our last-minute withdrawal, similar to the stance taken by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), sends the wrong message to the public about our supposed commitment to health,” he stated.
The decision by Organized Labour to embark on the intended action sparked mixed reactions from various stakeholders including members of Organized Labour.
Apart from the GRNMA, several Associations and Unions including the GMA, and the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) among others, pulled out of the impeding strike action, while others including the Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU), the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association supported the action in statements from their respective leaderships.
GNA