“We’re Too Tired to Return” – – Retired Nurse Fires Back at Health Minister Amid Strike Crisis
Ex-nurse says retirees lack the strength and support to rejoin the frontlines
- Retired nurse rejects Health Minister's call
- Says retirees are physically unfit and struggling financially
- Urges government to resolve the strike by addressing active nurses' concerns
A retired nurse has strongly rebuked Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh for suggesting that pensioned nurses should return to work to ease the pressure from the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
In an interview, the veteran nurse, who served from 1982 until retirement, slammed the minister’s appeal as unrealistic and inconsiderate.
“This appeal is completely off the mark,” she said. “Most of us are too exhausted and physically unfit to handle the demands of today’s healthcare system. We’re not in a position to replace active nurses.”
She went on to describe the proposal as insensitive, especially given the financial and health challenges many retirees already face.
“We’re struggling to survive in retirement. If we go back to work and something happens to us, who’s going to take care of us?” she asked.
The retired nurse urged the government to focus on resolving the root issues behind the strike, particularly the delayed implementation of the 2024 Collective Agreement.
“Let’s stop forcing square pegs into round holes,” she added. “Support the current workforce, meet their demands, and let them return to the job they’re trained for. That’s how we save lives.”
Minister Akandoh made the controversial call during a press briefing at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, June 10. The strike, which started on June 4, continues to severely disrupt healthcare services across the country.
