Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, has expressed the committee’s readiness to step in and help resolve the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) if current negotiations do not lead to a resolution.
In an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday, June 9, Dr. Nawaane underscored the essential role nurses play in Ghana’s healthcare delivery, describing them as the backbone of the entire system.
“Nurses are the backbone of the health system. Our health sovereignty, quality care, and resilience rely heavily on them. Without nurses, operations across hospital departments come to a halt,” he emphasized.
Though the Health Committee has not been formally invited to mediate in the matter, Dr. Nawaane said the committee is willing and prepared to support efforts to end the impasse. He, however, pointed out that the nurses may not have fully exhausted all available negotiation channels before embarking on their strike.
“As a committee, we have not received any formal request to join the negotiation process, but we are committed to contributing to a solution. We believe the GRNMA could have explored more avenues before deciding to strike,” he noted.
Dr. Nawaane revealed that the committee will meet today, Tuesday, June 10, to consider possible interventions if the deadlock persists. He added that Parliament may summon all involved parties for a comprehensive dialogue if the situation remains unresolved.
“If the issue continues, the Health Committee will not hesitate to invite all stakeholders to Parliament for an in-depth discussion,” he stated.
He also appealed to the striking nurses on humanitarian grounds, urging them to reflect on the strike’s impact on patients and to return to the negotiation table.
“I’m aware that discussions are ongoing between the Minister of Health and the nurses, and I remain hopeful that a resolution will be reached soon,” Dr. Nawaane added.