The Member of Parliament for Lambussie, Prof. Titus Beyuo, has described the recent strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) as premature, despite acknowledging the legitimacy of their demands.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Saturday, June 21, 2025, Prof. Beyuo noted that although strikes are a legitimate tool for workers to demand better conditions, they must be used judiciously and with regard to ongoing negotiations.
“Strikes are one of the means by which labour can make a demand or protest for improved conditions of service. But when used whimsically, it is not good,” he said.
“In this particular instance, the nurses had a very genuine case to demand what they were demanding, but I felt the strike was a bit premature considering that the government was talking.”
The strike, which was part of a nationwide industrial action by GRNMA members, caused significant disruption to healthcare delivery, leading to both financial and professional setbacks across the sector. Although the strike has since been suspended and nurses have returned to work, concerns linger about its impact.
Prof. Beyuo emphasised that the government had held multiple meetings with the association, suggesting that progress was being made, albeit slowly.
“Normally, the union will go on strike if the government does not talk. I think they [the government] were making some progress, but the nurses felt the progress was slow. But you have to look at things in terms of context and what is happening nationally, and also the economy. So, having had about six meetings, and suddenly a strike comes, that is unexpected,” he noted.
The MP also criticised how the strike escalated, particularly the complete withdrawal of services, which he said left patients in distress.
“The strike also escalated quickly to total withdrawal of service. In the health sector, the intention of the strike is not to punish the patient; it is to force the employer to talk. So it will start with services that are not so essential, then you progress to emergencies, but in this case, they went quickly to them, abandoning work totally. It means that patients were struggling and not cared for. That is regrettable,” he added.
Prof. Beyuo further called for restraint in public discourse surrounding industrial actions, cautioning political and public commentators to be mindful of their remarks amid labour unrests.
“Commentary about the strike was not helpful, and I will advise all persons—political persons and other communicators—that when these things happen, we should be mindful of our commentaries. It makes negotiations very difficult,” he stated.
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