Services at Bongo District Hospital have ground to a complete halt, as the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has extended its strike to include both Out‑Patient Departments (OPD) and emergency wards.
The action escalated following a June 3 directive from GRNMA leadership , leaving the facility devoid of essential care and withered operations.
Patients and their families are both shocked and exasperated as they queue outside shuttered wards and locked doors. Many lament having nowhere else to turn.
One distressed patron said: “We were sent away with no help. It’s terrifying when you’re in pain,” echoing stories emerging from hospitals in Accra and Kumasi alike . Residents say they’re calling on both GRNMA and government officials to intervene swiftly and get services back up and running soon.
Although the National Labour Commission ruled the strike illegal and ordered nurses back to work , the High Court issued a 10‑day injunction on June 5 to enforce compliance .
However, GRNMA maintains it has not been officially served documents, and insists the strike remains lawful — championing the motto “Aluta continua” (“The struggle continues”).
In response, the Ministry of Health released a stern rebuke, accusing GRNMA of acting in bad faith — stating that talks had been initiated with Finance and Fair Wages authorities, and urging the union to reconsider for the sake of patient welfare .
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who has met with GRNMA leaders multiple times since assuming office this year, emphasised that delays in implementing a May 2024 Collective Agreement warranted ongoing dialogue — not service withdrawal .
This isn’t isolated to Bongo. Across Ghana, major hospitals – including those in Kumasi, Accra, and the Volta Region – now have deserted OPDs and emergency wards. Physician assistants have been called in to fill gaps, but doctors warn this is insufficient and unsafe .