News
GH¢2bn demand threatens fiscal stability—Dep. Fin. Min. pleads with striking nurses
The Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has issued a direct appeal to striking nurses and midwives, urging them to return to the negotiation table.
The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) commenced an industrial action on Tuesday, June 4, which has brought vital healthcare services across over 300 public hospitals and clinics in all 16 regions to a near standstill.
Thousands of patients have been left stranded, with emergency units operating minimally and scheduled surgeries postponed indefinitely.
The nurses and midwives initiated the strike over what they describe as prolonged delays in the implementation of their 2024 Collective Agreement, which addresses critical conditions of service and remuneration.
While acknowledging their indispensable role in healthcare delivery, the Deputy Minister emphasised the severe budgetary constraints facing the nation, stating that fully meeting the nurses’ current demands would add “in excess of GH¢2 billion” to the national compensation budget.
Speaking at a joint press briefing with the Minister of Health today, Mr. Nyarko Ampem conveyed the government’s commitment to resolving the industrial action, recognising the critical importance of Ghana’s over 120,000 nurses and midwives to the health sector.
“Our nurses are very, very critical to healthcare delivery, and we appreciate what they do,” he stated.
However, the Deputy Minister quickly pivoted to the challenging economic realities.
He explained that the magnitude of the nurses’ demands for improved conditions of service poses a significant threat to the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts.
A GH¢2 billion increase in the compensation budget represents a substantial financial burden, potentially consuming a significant portion of the annual budget allocated for essential services or capital investments.
For context, this figure could account for over 10% of the health sector’s entire annual budget or fund multiple crucial infrastructure projects.
Mr. Nyarko Ampem underscored the government’s overarching commitment to macroeconomic stability, particularly under the ongoing IMF Extended Credit Facility programme.
“We have all committed that in our resolve to reset the economy of this country, we must maintain a 1.5% primary balance surplus every year in order to bring our debt levels to sustainable levels,” he highlighted.
Ghana’s public debt-to-GDP ratio remains a concern, hovering around 75%, making stringent expenditure management paramount to avoid further debt distress.
“So it is important for us to manage expenditure,” he stressed, appealing to the healthcare professionals to understand the broader economic context.
“We want to appeal to our revered nurses that we are willing to negotiate to settle them and the Ministry of Health to agree on a road map that will help us incorporate what can be accommodated in the budget for next year.”
The Deputy Minister expressed optimism that the nurses appreciate the government’s “hard work we are all doing to manage the economy better,” urging for a collaborative approach to achieve a “win-win situation for all of us.”
The proposed roadmap suggests a phased implementation of new conditions of service, likely spread across multiple budget cycles, to ensure fiscal prudence while addressing the legitimate concerns of the healthcare workforce.
Source:myjoyonline.com
News
Prioritise affordable treatment of sickle cell treatment —Health Expert
Health experts have urged Ghana to prioritise affordable and accessible treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) as advanced, but costly curative therapies remain out of reach.
SCD, an inherited blood disorder, affects about three in every 100 newborns in Ghana.
Globally, around 1,000 babies are born with the condition daily, with three-quarters in sub-Saharan Africa.
The disease causes severe complications including chronic pain, anaemia, infections, strokes and organ damage, often leading to shortened life expectancy.
In recent years, gene therapy has been developed as a potential cure.
However, its cost—running into millions of dollars per patient—makes it financially and technically inaccessible in Ghana.
According to Dr Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a Sickle Cell and Childhood Cancer Expert at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, “the country must instead focus on practical, lower-cost interventions such as hydroxyurea”, a decades-old cancer drug proven to reduce painful episodes, hospitalisation and life- threatening complications in SCD patients”.
Taken orally, the medicine improves red blood cell function and is considered safe and effective.
“Hydroxyurea therapy is as good as the cure and a low-hanging fruit to pluck, we must bring a cure to our sickle cell warriors, but do so sustainably.” he urged.
In a chat with The Spectator here, he said to create awareness on the disease, the expert noted that despite its benefits, “hydroxyurea is not widely accessible in Ghana.”
Stressing that, “many patients either cannot afford it or struggle with irregular supply through the health system.”
Moreover, he argued that scaling up access would provide immediate relief while the country builds the infrastructure, trains specialists and secures funding needed to support curative therapies in the future.
With an estimated 15,000 babies born with sickle cell disease annually in Ghana, Dr Osei Tutu cautioned that “failure to improve access to effective treatment will leave many patients vulnerable to preventable complications and early death.”
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Hot!
Let’s reintroduce Cultural Studies to complement educational reforms — Tourism Minister
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has emphasised the importance of reintroducing Cultural Studies in schools as part of Ghana’s broader educational reform agenda.
She said Cultural Studies would complement existing efforts to reposition Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to promote digital literacy and expand Creative Arts education.
Speaking at the 2025 Homowo Festival of the people of Ningo-Prampram, held on the theme: “Education: The Best Legacy for our Children,” Madam Gomashie said cultural education was critical to national identity and development.
She noted that the festival’s theme aligned with the Government’s vision to transform education in Ghana and encouraged the youth to embrace it not only as a means of personal development but also as a way of preserving traditional values.
These values, including patience, wisdom, and hard work, were at the core of the Homowo celebration, the Minister said.
“Cultural festivals like Homowo are vital instruments for strengthening cultural identity, preserving historical memory, and fostering national unity. Additionally, festivals serve as platforms for educating the youth through storytelling, music, dance, and other traditional practices, while also providing opportunities for community engagement.”
Madam Gomashie highlighted the strong foundation that Ghana’s tourism was built on, which included culture, traditions, and the creative industry, collectively contributing to over GH¢4.8 billion to the economy.
“Festivals give tourists reasons to visit our country. Therefore, with the right infrastructure and the development of all the domains, the sector can do more than what has been recorded,” she added.
Mr Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, commended the community for their vibrant participation in the festival. He announced plans for the construction of a new nursing training school in Ningo, aimed at expanding access to healthcare education in the area.
Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII, Paramount Chief of Great Ningo Traditional Area; King Dr Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse; Nene Tetteh Wakah III, Paramount Chief of the Prampram Traditional Area; Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area; Naana Dugbakuwor Dugba II, Paramount Queen Mother of Great Ningo; and Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Special Envoy on Religion and Inter-Faith Affairs, who represented the Chief of Staff, were among dignitaries at the festival. -GNA
