Ghana: Nurses plan to protest in major cities September 5

Event

The Ghana Nurses and Midwives Trainees Association (GNMTA) has organized nationwide demonstrations on Wednesday, September 5, to demand the government give financial clearance in order to employ 27,000 nurses across the country. In Accra, participants are expected to gather at various locations and march to the Ministry of Health and to the Jubilee House. Related demonstrations are also planned in Ho, Kumasi, Tamale, Wa, Bolgatanga, and Cape Coast beginning at 07:00 (local time) on Wednesday. The majority of protesters on Wednesday are expected to be unposted nurses; consequently, no significant disruptions to health service availability is anticipated. However, the Coalition of Concerned Nurses and Midwives has threatened to launch a nationwide strike on September 10 if their demands are not met. A heightened security presence and localized transportation disruptions are expected near all demonstration sites. Further related protests are possible in the coming days.

Context

In March, the Ministry of Health had committed to issue the financial clearance necessary to employ 27,000 trained nurses by mid-July, according to GNMTA officials. The Minister of Health, Kwaky Agyemang, recently stated that the clearance process is now expected to be completed by September or early October.

Advice

Individuals in the abovementioned areas are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests and demonstrations due to potential violence, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.