The Greater Accra Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Jefferson Asare, has shed light on the harsh realities faced by nurses across the country, revealing the extent of systemic neglect within the healthcare system.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, June 14, he described a dire situation where nurses often have to finance their medical treatment, even for work-related injuries.

“We asked for medical care support, not money in our pockets but a form of insurance. Imagine a psychiatric nurse hurt by a client and having to pay for treatment out of pocket in the same ward where they work. Even paracetamol, we pay for in cash and collect receipts.”

He cited a recent case of a colleague who suffered a spinal injury at work, ignored by the facility and is now being taken care of by the association.

“If he doesn’t recover soon, he’ll be taken off ” Asare revealed, highlighting the grim reality that frontline health workers face. He added that even during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses infected on the job had to cover their own treatment costs—underscoring a systemic failure to protect those risking their lives for the public.

These revelations come on the heels of the GRNMA’s decision to suspend its nationwide strike, which began on June 9, 2025. The industrial action was sparked by the government’s attempt to defer the implementation of newly agreed conditions of service to 2026, a decision the union firmly rejected.

The strike severely impacted public health services, with emergency wards, outpatient departments, and maternity units reporting acute staff shortages and increased waiting times. Despite high-stakes meetings with the Ministry of Health and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, no immediate agreement was reached, prompting the union to take action.

However, after intense public pressure and renewed dialogue, the government committed to revisiting its position. On that basis, the GRNMA announced the suspension of the strike at a press briefing in Accra.

GRNMA President, Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, used the opportunity to call on the government to demonstrate genuine respect for nurses by addressing their longstanding concerns.