Prioritise lives over labour concerns –COFIIG-Ghana to striking nurses 

A Nation on the Edge: Nurses Strike Amid Healthcare Crisis

Ghana’s fragile healthcare system is facing a critical test as sections of the nation’s nursing workforce embark on a strike action to press home demands for improved conditions of service. While labour rights and collective bargaining remain cornerstones of democracy, the situation is igniting fresh concerns about public safety and ethical responsibilities within the medical field.

In the midst of this turmoil, the Coalition for Integrity in Governance – Ghana (COFIIG-GHANA) has issued a bold and urgent statement, calling on striking nurses to reconsider their actions in light of the greater national good.

COFIIG speaks out: Human life must come first

In a press release dated June 9, 2025, COFIG-GHANA expressed deep concern over the strike, acknowledging the legitimacy of the nurses’ demands, but warning that the timing and national consequences of the action are gravely concerning.

“We fully recognize that the demands being made by the nurses are within their rights,” the statement reads, “but we also emphasize that we are in a new era of governance, facing unprecedented national and economic challenges.”

The Coalition’s central argument is clear: the sanctity of life must override industrial demands—especially for professionals whose primary duty is to save lives.

Economic strain and ethical responsibility

COFIG’s appeal comes at a time when Ghana is grappling with deep economic woes. The nation’s high debt servicing, inflationary pressures, rising unemployment, and limited fiscal space are impacting all sectors, including healthcare.

According to the release, about 70% of government revenue is currently allocated to salaries, emoluments, and allowances. In such a context, COFIG questions whether further financial demands are sustainable and urges public sector workers to recognize the need for national sacrifice.

“If this strike is not politically motivated,” the statement challenges, “then we expect our nurses to demonstrate a deeper understanding of what governance entails.”

COFIIG’s emergency recommendations

In an effort to stem the crisis, COFIG-GHANA has proposed a set of urgent interventions:

1. Immediate recruitment of unemployed nurses to fill the staffing void created by the strike.
2. Deployment of international medical personnel, particularly Cuban doctors, to supplement the strained healthcare system.

These measures are seen as both a stopgap and a wake-up call for long-term structural reforms within the public health sector.

A moral dilemma: Striking vs. saving lives

Perhaps the most emotionally charged part of COFIG’s statement lies in its direct moral appeal to the conscience of the striking nurses:

“If your own family member fell critically ill today, would you refuse to provide care simply because you’re on strike?”

This rhetorical question underscores a perceived contradiction between professional ethics and industrial action, sparking broader public discourse on the duties of healthcare providers in times of crisis.

A call for dialogue and national unity

COFIG concludes its address by calling on all parties to return to the negotiation table in good faith. The organization insists that dialogue, not protest, is the more responsible and constructive path forward.

“Let us work together to find solutions— not by leaving hospital beds empty, but by engaging constructively for the collective good of our nation.”

The road ahead

As the government, healthcare professionals, and civil society groups navigate this tense moment, COFIG’s intervention adds a crucial ethical and civic dimension to the debate. Whether or not their call will yield immediate results remains to be seen—but their message is unequivocal: national interest must guide national action.

Contact COFIG-GHANA
📞 Tel: 055 858 9873
📧 Email: cofiig@yahoo.com