The Leadership of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has rendered an unqualified apology to Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh for their public comments following a recent incident at the Ridge Hospital.
Other issues discussed also aimed at strengthening the working relationship between the nurses and government.
The apology comes after a viral video showed relatives of a patient assaulting medical staff at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital’s emergency unit, highlighting the need for better security measures in healthcare facilities.
The controversy began when General Secretary of the GRNMA, Dr. Tenkorang-Twum made comments suggesting that Mr Akandoh’s background as a farmer made him unfit to understand hospital operations.
A statement that received a response from the sector minister.
The statement sparked widespread criticism, with many describing it as disrespectful and unprofessional. The Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF) strongly condemned Dr. Tenkorang-Twum’s remarks, giving him a 24-hour ultimatum to retract his statements and apologize.
In a statement, the Ministry noted that, the Minister after accepting the apology, pledged to see to the successful implementation of the collective bargaining agreement to improve the condition of service for nurses and to also support the ongoing transformation of the health sector in line with achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The statement further urged all stakeholders and the general public to remain calm as government is committed to resolving challenges within the health sector.
The development is expected to help to ease seeming tensions between healthcare professionals and the government, promoting a more collaborative approach to improving the healthcare system.
