The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Volta Regional Branch, has demanded a larger nursing workforce and improved working conditions to sustain the country’s Free Primary Healthcare programme.
During the launch of the Association’s week‑long celebration in Ho on 30 September 2026, the theme “Our Nurses, Our Future: Empowered Nurses Save Lives” set the tone for the appeal.
Dr Oliver Commey, Director of Infectious Diseases at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, warned that the free service would double the burden on nurses already stretched thin. “When we say things are free, people will troop to various facilities. The nurse is already overwhelmed when it is not free. When it is free, they become doubly overwhelmed,” he said.
Commey added that the programme must be paired with recruitment and essential resources so nurses can manage the expected rise in patient numbers. “The care is still there. It is only a healthcare worker that can give that care. So, when we say that the programme should carry the nurses, that is exactly what we mean,” he said.
Volta Regional Chairman Mr Courage Kwame‑Kumah highlighted that declining motivation among nurses and midwives stems from low pay, poor conditions of service, inadequate equipment and unsuitable working environments. He warned that the free scheme would further increase workloads at peripheral facilities, risking a drop in quality care.
Kwame‑Kumah cited inadequate accommodation, deteriorating hospital infrastructure and non‑adjustable beds as factors that harm nurses’ welfare and occupational health. He noted a growing trend of nurses seeking opportunities abroad, stating, “Basically, your first instinct is to leave this country.” He urged the government to adopt concrete measures rather than allowing the same challenges to persist year after year.
The GRNMA celebration aims to recognise nurses’ contributions while drawing attention to the support systems required to strengthen healthcare delivery and protect practitioners’ welfare.
As the Free Primary Healthcare programme rolls out, stakeholders will need to address the workforce and infrastructure gaps highlighted by the association to ensure the initiative’s success.
