The President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, is pushing for significant salary increases for nurses and midwives in the country. She believes that a composite salary of GHS10,000 should be the minimum for entry-level nurses, while chief nursing officers should earn at least 20,000 Cedis.
In an interview on TV3’s Hot Issue with Kemmeni Amanor, Ofori-Ampofo emphasised the need for better conditions of service to retain nurses and midwives in Ghana.
“For the least person working as a nurse, a composite salary of GHS10,000 will be ideal. For chief nursing officers, the ideal salary should be at least 20,000 Cedis,” on the Hot Issue with Kemmeni Amanor on TV3 Sunday, March 31
She expressed optimism about ongoing negotiations with the government and urged for swift action to meet their demands.
“The situation of remuneration and other conditions of service cannot be the same but currently, we are on the negotiation table, we are negotiating our conditions of service, the collective agreement that is in force now expired and we are negotiating it.
“We have made a number of proposals to the employer to say that this is what we deserve as nurses and midwives. If we are able to get them it will help us retain our nurses, those who are eager to migrate outside. It will also help us in motivating us to also do our work.”
Acknowledging the impact of brain drain on healthcare delivery, Ofori-Ampofo highlighted the departure of experienced nurses seeking better opportunities abroad.
“It is their right and we cannot stop them but the truth of the matter is that as much as they are leaving it is having a toll on health service delivery in Ghana.
“The truth is those that are leaving are those that are well experienced, with many years of experience. Even if we are going to recruit new personnel these are the very people who would have trained them, so their leaving is a big issue.”
She stressed the importance of addressing this trend through improved career prospects, educational support, and enhanced remuneration packages.
“It is about time we really sit as stakeholders to discuss this matter thoroughly. From where we sit, we know that we cannot stop them because it is their right to migrate but it is about time we put in some innovation in terms of motivational packages that will really attract or help to retain them in the country.
“There are some nurses who for various reasons will never leave Ghana but the majority are still nurturing the idea of leaving the shores of Ghana, it is all because they want to have better opportunities for career progression, they want to pursue some academic venture, looking for higher salaries or better conditions of service.”
The GRNMA’s efforts reflect a broader call for urgent intervention to bolster the healthcare workforce and ensure quality care for all Ghanaians.