Accra, Ghana — ARHR is deeply concerned by the ongoing nationwide strike action by nurses in Ghana occasioned by the failure of government to implement the agreed-upon conditions of service, which expires next year. While we acknowledge the rights of healthcare professionals to demand fair treatment and better working conditions, we are equally alarmed by the life-threatening implications of the strike action for patients, particularly, pregnant women and their unborn babies and newborns.
Already, credible reports confirm widespread disruptions in maternal and emergency care across public hospitals. The situation is deteriorating rapidly with the looming threat of avoidable deaths if urgent action is not taken. The lives of mothers, newborns and patients in critical conditions are hanging by a thread. In light of this, we strongly urge both the leadership of the nursing unions and the Government of Ghana to return to the negotiation table immediately for frank, respectful, and solution-oriented dialogue and action.
Healthcare Is Not a Battlefield—It Is a Lifeline
The delivery of healthcare services must never be allowed to collapse, regardless of grievances, change in government, or political impasse. A prolonged stalemate will only deepen the suffering of citizens who depend on public health institutions for essential care. It is our conviction that both parties, the Government and nurses, share a common commitment to human dignity and public health. We urge that the shared commitment must be allowed to lead the way to a swift resolution.
Every day of inaction places countless lives at risk and erodes public confidence in our healthcare system. The cost of delayed treatment or unattended emergencies is far too high for any nation to bear. It is time for unity, responsibility, and courageous leadership to prevail.
Healthcare must not be used as a battlefield, but upheld as a lifeline,a sacred space where compassion, service, and humanity take precedence over conflict, politics, or negotiation tactics. It must be a system designed to preserve life, not jeopardize it, and must be protected from becoming a casualty of disputes or power struggles. When healthcare is compromised, it is the most vulnerable: children, pregnant women, the elderly, and the poor, who suffer the most.
A Call to Action
The health and lives of Ghanaians are too precious to be caught in the crossfire of unresolved labor disputes. ARHR appeals to the conscience of all stakeholders: let us protect the integrity of our health system, the welfare of our nurses, and above all, the lives of our people.
Download the full Press Statement here
