Labour consultant Austin Gamey has stated that the government has the financial capacity to clear salary arrears owed to unpaid nurses and midwives, calling for calm as pressure intensifies over months of unpaid work in public health facilities.
His remarks come amid rising discontent among a group of nurses and midwives under the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, who say they worked for nearly a year but were paid for only one month.
The group has described the situation as harsh and demoralising, warning that it is undermining morale and affecting patient care. They accuse the Health Ministry of reneging on commitments and making selective payments.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Mr Gamey argued that the issue goes beyond a simple lack of funds and has now become a clear obligation for the state.
“I don’t think money is entirely the issue. It may be a small part of it, but at this point, it is an obligation,” he said.
Drawing from his experience in government, he noted that while delays in paying public sector workers were not new, Ghana should have moved beyond repeating such challenges.
“I’ve been in government and dealt with similar issues before. These problems have persisted over the years, but we’ve come too far to keep repeating them,” he said.
Mr Gamey expressed confidence that the affected nurses and midwives would eventually receive their arrears and urged stakeholders to remain patient.
“They will be paid, and they can be paid,” he insisted.
He also voiced strong belief in the government’s ability to mobilise the necessary resources, pointing to what he described as empathetic leadership at the top.
“I strongly believe the government can raise the money, especially with the kind of President we have, who is sensitive to the concerns of working people,” he said.
Appealing directly to the nurses and midwives, Mr Gamey urged restraint and advised against escalating tensions, assuring them of ongoing advocacy behind the scenes.
“They should exercise patience and see the process through. Some of us are quietly pushing for them,” he added.
He further cautioned against protests and legal action, suggesting that confrontation may not yield swift solutions at this stage.
“I don’t think demonstrations or a legalistic approach will solve the problem right now,” he said.
His comments come as unpaid nurses and midwives warn that continued neglect is eroding morale across public health facilities and could ultimately compromise the quality of healthcare delivery nationwide.
