Police Hospital overwhelmed amid nationwide nurses’ strike

The Ghana Police Hospital is under intense pressure following the nationwide strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), which began on June 4, 2025.

A visit observed hundreds of patients waiting for medical care at the Out-Patients Department (OPD), Emergency Unit, and Labour Ward. All beds were occupied, with some patients receiving treatment in chairs.

Medical staff have extended their working hours from 0700 to 1500 hours to 0700 to 2000 hours to cope with rising patient numbers.

COP Samuel Otu-Nyarko, Medical Director, told GNA that daily patient attendance has surged from 200 to over 500, overwhelming staff.

However, he said emergency measures are in place, including recalling staff on leave and extending work shifts.

“We have put some incentives in place, such as giving water and providing a place for our staff to sleep when they are tired. You know, if you are overwhelmed, we can’t tell you to keep working. You might make mistakes because of tiredness,” he added.

Several patients shared how the strike forced them to seek treatment at the Police Hospital.

“My wife and I reported to Kete Krachi Hospital with acute diarrhoea, only to be told that there were only student nurses at the facility.

“Looking at the seriousness of the situation, we came to the Police Hospital for proper medical attention,” said Elder Sefania Chokpul.

Madam Anabayooma Avalum, an expectant mother, said she was shocked by the shortage of beds due to the surge in admissions.

She urged the government to address the concerns of striking nurses urgently.

Her plea was echoed by Cynthia Adotey, another expectant mother, who had to switch from Osu Hospital to the Police Hospital.

“I used to attend antenatal care at Osu Hospital, but I came here because of the nurses’ strike. I am begging the government to intervene and attend to the demands of the nurses for peace to prevail,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health, has appealed to retired nurses and midwives to temporarily return to duty while the government works to resolve the strike.

This followed an inconclusive meeting on Monday between the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and GRNMA, during which the government cited budgetary constraints as the reason for the delay in implementing the association’s demands.

The GRNMA strike began with the withdrawal of all OPD services from June 4 to 8, followed by a complete nationwide withdrawal of services from June 9, 2025, despite government efforts to prevent the action.

In May 2025, GRNMA announced a phased withdrawal of services to protest the government’s failure to implement a collective agreement signed in May 2024.

The agreement—endorsed by the GRNMA, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and Fair Wages and Salaries Commission—covers all nurses and midwives in Ghana but remains unimplemented a year after signing.

Source: GNA