Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, on Tuesday cautioned that meeting the full demands of striking nurses and midwives could significantly destabilize the nation’s fragile economy, intensifying concerns amid a widespread disruption of public health services.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Mr.Akandoh said the government remains open to further dialogue with the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), but warned that the compensation proposals currently on the table pose major fiscal risks.

“The government will again stress its readiness to further engage with the view of implementing the conditions of service in a manner that does not dislocate the national budget,” the minister said.

The comments come as thousands of nurses and midwives across the country continue a nationwide strike, demanding immediate improvements to their conditions of service. Health facilities, particularly in rural and public sectors, have scaled down operations due to staff shortages.

Mr.Akandoh pointed out that the proposed benefits were not included in the government’s 2025 financial blueprint. “We wish to draw attention to the fact that the conditions under reference are not captured in the 2025 budget and will completely throw the economy off gear if implemented immediately in the manner it currently exists,” he stated.

Ghana, which is recovering from a recent debt crisis and ongoing IMF-backed economic reforms, remains vulnerable to shocks stemming from unbudgeted expenditures. The minister stressed that the administration is wary of repeating past fiscal missteps.

“We are mindful of the serious economic consequences of unbudgeted expenditure,” Akandoh said. “We want to avoid the economic factors that led to the crisis in the first place.”

The government has called on union leaders to resume negotiations and seek a compromise solution, but the GRNMA has yet to back down from its demands.

Source:TheDotNews