Government was insensitive and dismissive – Agyapa Mercer on GRNMA strike

Former Sekondi MP and legal practitioner Andrew Agyapa Mercer has criticised the government’s handling of the nurses’ strike, calling it insensitive and dismissive of the health workers’ legitimate concerns.

Speaking on Saturday, June 14, 2025, Agyapa Mercer expressed deep disappointment at what he described as a cold response from the government to the grievances of striking nurses and midwives across the country.

The strike, led by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), began earlier in June over unfulfilled promises relating to conditions of service, salary adjustments, and the absorption of new nurses.

Despite reaching an agreement in May 2024, the provisions were not included in the 2025 national budget. Repeated follow-ups yielded no results, prompting the industrial action.

“I think that government was insensitive. They were just callous. They were dismissive of the issues and nonchalantly handled the entire matter,” Agyapa Mercer said.

He also took issue with how some government communicators have publicly criticised the striking nurses, describing such comments as unfair and inflammatory.

He argued that the state should have prioritised dialogue rather than resorting to public confrontation.

Touching on the broader implications, Agyapa Mercer questioned the government’s priorities, particularly in the context of healthcare access.

He suggested that top officials are often insulated from the country’s healthcare challenges, relying on private care or traveling abroad when unwell.

The strike, which was suspended on Friday, June 13, 2025, raised concerns about the treatment of frontline workers and the sustainability of Ghana’s public health sector.