The 2024 NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Adentan constituency, Akosua Manu has criticized the government’s decision to recall retired nurses to mitigate the ongoing health sector crisis, stating that it could not be a viable solution.
In an interview on Thursday, June 12, Akosua Manu argued that the move demonstrated the government’s failure to adequately respond to the core concerns of nurses, particularly their demand for improved conditions of service.
She said it was dismissive for the Minister to suggest bringing in retired nurses to replace striking staff, noting that even some retired nurses had spoken publicly about the difficult conditions they endured during service and the lack of proper retirement benefits. She reportedly described the decision as both shameful and embarrassing.
“The Health Minister even said that he’s going to bring retired nurses if they are going to behave this way, it is so dismissive of the concerns of the nurses. Even with the retired nurses, in their few interviews they have spoken out about the horrible conditions they’ve suffered and how they existed it without even a decent retirement package,” she said.
Her remarks followed a formal government appeal to retired nurses and midwives to support healthcare delivery during the strike organized by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
