Ibrahim Issah is PUSAG President

The Private Universities Students’ Association of Ghana (PUSAG) is expressing profound grief and outrage over the reported deaths linked to the ongoing Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) strike, calling for immediate and sweeping reforms to Ghana's healthcare system.

PUSAG President Ibrahim Issah described the situation as a "tragic" wake-up call, emphasising that while the nurses' grievances may be valid, the consequences of their strike have disproportionately impacted vulnerable Ghanaians dependent on public health services.

"We can negotiate for pay, but not for life. When tools go down, hearts must not stop beating," Issah stated passionately in a press release.

The statement follows alarming reports of over 4,500 missed outpatient visits and at least 11 deaths in the first 72 hours of the strike, with maternal and emergency care severely impacted in the Northern, Bono, and Greater Accra regions.

Referencing Section 162 of the Labour Act (Act 651), PUSAG argues that health services are essential and must maintain a minimum level of operation even during strikes, adding that the current disruption breaches both legal and ethical obligations.

PUSAG has suggested a three-pronged call to action:

To the GRNMA: Urging restraint and advocating for arbitration, negotiated settlements, and legal processes as alternatives to strikes that endanger lives.

To the Government and Ministry of Health: Demanding an urgent and transparent national dialogue with health unions, the creation of a National Essential Services Mediation Desk with a 14-day arbitration timeline, and legal safeguards to protect emergency healthcare during industrial action.

To Civil Society and Stakeholders: Calling on religious leaders, Parliament, the National Labour Commission, and CHRAJ to resist the "normalisation of preventable deaths during labour disputes" and to support reforms that balance worker rights with the fundamental right to life.

Issah stressed that PUSAG, representing over 137 private tertiary institutions, is committed to a Ghana where the protection of life is paramount. The student body plans to engage Parliament and human rights institutions to demand accountability and champion people-first reforms in labour negotiations.

"The lives lost should not be in vain," said Issah. "This must be the turning point for a more compassionate and balanced approach to essential service delivery in Ghana." PUSAG reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for policies that protect the vulnerable, especially during times of crisis.