Ahiagbah demands Health Minister's dismissal over handling of nurses' strike
The Communications Director of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has called for the immediate dismissal of the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, over the recent nationwide strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
According to him, the Minister's behaviour was unacceptable, calling for his resignation over what he describes as poor handling of the nationwide nurses' and midwives’ strike.
“Honourable Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister for Health, must go. He should have been gone. He must go home—leave the Ministry and go home,” Mr Ahiagbah said on Accra-based Citi TV on Saturday.
Referencing Mr Akandoh’s past role as Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, Mr Ahiagbah recalled, “Did you see the things he was doing and saying? He accused Dr. Agyemang-Manu of looking on for a strike—a local strike in Kumasi, Komfo Anokye—over administrative professional matters.”
He said the same individual who once criticised his predecessor for failing to address local unrest was now presiding over a national healthcare crisis without decisive leadership.
The NPP Communications Director accused Mr Akandoh of ignoring early warning signs from as far back as January and failing to honour assurances that the nurses' concerns would be addressed in the 2025 Budget.
“They found all the fiscal space to allocate GH¢2.7 billion for compensation at the Jubilee House, but didn’t prioritise the health of Ghanaians,” he said.
He also lashed out at the Health Minister's proposal to recall retired nurses to fill the gap created by the strike, describing the idea as “reckless and insensitive.”
“That kind of hardball he was playing with people’s health was repugnant. People died because of his negligence. For that reason, he must be gone,” Ahiagbah insisted.
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