The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) Volta Regional Branch has called for increased recruitment of nurses and improved working conditions. This appeal aims to sustain the proposed Free Primary Healthcare programme, which may increase patient attendance at health facilities and put additional pressure on nurses. The GRNMA made this call during the launch of their week-long celebration in Ho on September 30, 2026.
Dr. Oliver Commey, Director of Infectious Diseases at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, emphasized that nurses are central to the success of the Free Primary Healthcare programme. He stated that nurses must be adequately supported to deliver quality services, as they will be overwhelmed by the expected rise in patient numbers. Dr. Commey stressed that the programme's success relies on increased recruitment and provision of essential resources for nurses.
The GRNMA celebration, themed "Our Nurses, Our Future: Empowered Nurses Save Lives," seeks to recognize the contributions of nurses and midwives while highlighting the support systems required to strengthen healthcare delivery and protect practitioners' welfare. The Association's Volta Regional Chairman, Mr. Courage Kwame-Kumah, noted that declining motivation among nurses and midwives is linked to poor conditions of service, inadequate working materials, and unfavorable working environments.
Mr. Kwame-Kumah expressed concerns that the introduction of free primary healthcare will increase the workload of nurses at peripheral facilities, raising questions about the availability of necessary resources to sustain quality care. He cited inadequate accommodation, deteriorating hospital infrastructure, and unsuitable equipment as factors affecting nurses' welfare and occupational health. These challenges contribute to the increasing desire among nurses to seek employment abroad.
Dr. Commey acknowledged concerns surrounding the implementation of the programme but expressed confidence that the government will address the challenges and provide the required personnel and resources. He emphasized that nurses are essential in providing care and that the programme's success relies on their ability to manage the expected rise in patient numbers.
Mr. Kwame-Kumah urged the government and stakeholders to adopt concrete measures to address the concerns rather than allowing the same challenges to persist. He stressed that improving working conditions, providing essential equipment, and ensuring decent accommodation could help reduce the exodus of nurses and midwives. The GRNMA's appeal aims to ensure that nurses and midwives receive the support they need to deliver quality healthcare services.
The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association's call for increased recruitment and improved working conditions highlights the critical role nurses play in the success of the Free Primary Healthcare programme. With the programme's implementation, it is essential that the government and stakeholders address the concerns raised by the GRNMA to ensure the programme's success and protect the welfare of nurses and midwives.
Key points
- GRNMA calls for increased nurse recruitment and improved working conditions to sustain the proposed Free Primary Healthcare programme.
- Nurses are central to the success of the Free Primary Healthcare programme and must be adequately supported to deliver quality services.
- The GRNMA's appeal aims to ensure that nurses and midwives receive the support they need to deliver quality healthcare services.
