The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association has called on the Ministry of Health to abolish the a policy they consider as discriminatory against nurses and midwives. According to them, the are the only health professionals who pay for clearance forms to initiate processes for the Verification of Licenses.
The Association further called on the Ministry of Finance to as a matter of urgency, issue the needed Financial Clearance for the employment of the thousands of nurses and midwives currently languishing at home after using the limited tax payers money to train them to acquire skills being wasting away each passing day.
The association assure members that, the negotiation on their Conditions of Service is on-going and would be in their collective interest.
This was made known at a press conference presented by the President of Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Madam Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo (FWACN, FGCNM) held in Accra today.
She stated, “Following the announcement of the new fees and charges by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana and the subsequent agitations by nurses and midwives on the astronomical increment of the Verification Fee from GHC550 to GHC3,000, the National Council of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association within the period issued two Press Releases on 11th March and 21st March 2024 and formally wrote letters to the Ministry of Health, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Speaker of Paliament, the majority and minority leaders and the Chairman for the Parliamentary select committee on health”.
Madam Ampofo averred that, a meeting with the Ministry of Health, the management of the NMC and leadership of Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association on 25th March 2024 concluded on the need for the Nursing and Midwifery Council Board to holistically address the issue for the benefit of all parties.
She said, a statement issued by the 15th Governing Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Board dated 26th March 2024 stated that, the Board has taken a decision to halt the implementation of the newly approved fees and charges pending its review .
“In view of this decision by the NMC Board, the National Council of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association at its sitting today, 27th day of March 2024 has taken a decision to halt its roadmap of action in protest of the increased Verification fee”.
She therefore, assured all nurses and midwives that, leadership of the GRNMA would continue to engage and work with interested parties to ensure that any new Verification Fee is fair and acceptable to the nursing and midwifery fraternity.
