The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has warned the government not to repeat the broken promises of the COVID-19 pandemic as Ghana prepares for possible Ebola cases.
Speaking on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM on 28 October, GRNMA’s National Assistant Public Relations Officer, Philimon Gyapong, said that commitments made to nurses and midwives during COVID-19 were never fulfilled. These included insurance cover for health workers infected on duty, a dedicated treatment fund, and a substantial payment to the families of health workers who died.
He described it as “a bitter experience for health workers,” adding: “Due to these failed promises, nurses and midwives are unhappy about how we manage these infectious situations.”
What GRNMA is asking for
- Prioritise the welfare of nurses, midwives and other health workers.
- Procure protective equipment and logistics quickly, so staff can work safely.
- Track and monitor travellers from high-risk areas.
- Strengthen laboratory readiness and update standard operating procedures.
The association said Ghanaian nurses and midwives were ready to support outbreak management, and urged the public to stay calm, practise hand hygiene, and avoid contact with people showing symptoms.
Ghana’s Ebola status
Ghana has not reported any confirmed Ebola case. The Ministry of Health, led by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has stepped up preparedness and surveillance after cases of Bundibugyo Ebola were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Nigeria. The outbreak in DR Congo has now passed 10,000 cases.
A wider problem
Ghana’s nurses are not alone. Health workers in many countries say pandemic-era promises of hazard pay, insurance and compensation were delayed, reduced or never paid. During the 2014–2016 West African Ebola epidemic, more than 800 health workers were infected and over 500 died, according to WHO, many of them nurses. Each outbreak teaches the same lesson: health workers’ willingness to show up depends on whether they believe they and their families will be protected.
What protection should look like
International guidance on health worker safety in emergencies generally includes:
- Adequate, well-fitting PPE and training before cases arrive.
- Designated isolation and screening areas.
- Clear procedures for reporting and managing exposures.
- Occupational health services, including mental health support.
- Insurance and compensation for health workers who fall ill or die in the line of duty, agreed in writing.
- Fair hazard allowances paid on time.
Related: Ebola tops 10,000 cases · Ebola PPE guide · Ghana’s nurses going abroad · N&MC Ghana guide
Source: Rainbow Radio Online, 28 October 2026, interview with GRNMA’s Philimon Gyapong; WHO data on health worker infections during the 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic.