Midwives’ Association rejects nationwide strike, cites exclusion and disrespect

The National Association of Registered Midwives Ghana (NARM-GH) has publicly distanced itself from the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), stating they were excluded from key decisions and due process was not followed.

Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues on June 8, 2025, NARM-GH President Leticia Asaba Atiah made it clear that midwives did not agree to the strike. “We are not in support of the strike because the due process wasn’t completed,” she stated.

Madam Leticia explained that NARM-GH was removed from the bargaining group without consultation, which she described as unlawful.

“…But they [GRNMA] can’t legally do that. Nurses shouldn’t bargain for midwives,” she asserted.

She added that her group had not yet met with the Finance Minister, a meeting scheduled for June 18, which they believe should have happened before any strike decision. “We think that we should go back and negotiate,” she added.

According to Madam Leticia, five unions including GRNMA, NARM-GH, the Professional Nurses Association, the Psychiatric Nurses Association, and the Ghana Registered Midwives Association had previously held meetings with the Health Minister and the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service. All agreed to meet the Finance Minister to discuss concerns and implement a collective agreement signed in November 2024.

However, GRNMA later called an emergency meeting, where it announced a strike action approved by its National Executive Committee, despite opposition from the other unions.

Madam Atiah revealed NARM-GH was not informed about GRNMA’s press conference announcing the strike.

“There should be that respect to us,” she said. “They thought our number, maybe we are not just as big as they are and they are the holder of the bargaining certificate and we don’t have power to bargain so we have to listen to them.”

She believes midwives need their own bargaining certificate, noting that “If we had our own bargaining certificate, we wouldn’t all be on strike.”

She also raised concerns about health insurance and the undervaluing of midwives in the healthcare system.

“Midwives shouldn’t be under nurses or taken for granted. We attend to more than one life at any given time—mother and baby(ies).”

Meanwhile, more than 128,000 nurses and midwives joined the strike, which began on May 28. The National Labour Commission has since obtained a court order to halt it.