Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has underscored the critical role of nurses and midwives in Ghana’s healthcare delivery, describing them as indispensable to building a resilient health system.
Dr. Bawumia made the remarks on Wednesday, September 3 when he met the national executives of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) in Accra in Accra, as part of his ongoing stakeholder engagements ahead of the 2028 elections.
The meeting, which Dr. Bawumia described as “fruitful and enlightening,” was aimed at listening to the lived experiences, concerns and policy ideas of frontline health professionals.
“Without nurses and midwives, there is no healthcare system. You are the first point of contact, you are the last line of defence, and you are the heart of care delivery in Ghana. You must be seen and treated as indispensable,” Dr. Bawumia told the leadership of the Association.
The executives of the GRNMA used the opportunity to share pressing concerns confronting their members and the health sector at large.
Their presentation focused on the urgent need to improve nursing education and continuous professional development, bridge infrastructure gaps in health facilities across the country, strengthen leadership and management in the sector, and find lasting solutions to the cycle of industrial actions.
They also called for innovative and sustainable interventions to enhance the welfare, motivation and working conditions of nurses and midwives, including clear career progression pathways, improved conditions of service, and better recognition for their sacrifices.
Dr. Bawumia, who listened attentively and engaged extensively with the group, commended them for their forthrightness and depth of insight, assuring them that their inputs would be central to his policy thinking on health.
“What I have heard today is invaluable. You have given me practical insights that you only get from those who are on the ground doing the work every day. My commitment is to work with you to build a healthcare system that values its workers and delivers for the Ghanaian people,” Dr Bawumia said.
The former Vice President reiterated his vision of a modern, well-managed healthcare system where health workers are motivated, well-trained, and well-supported to deliver quality care.
The engagement with the GRNMA is the latest in a series of stakeholder consultations Dr. Bawumia has been holding with professional bodies, youth groups, business leaders and civil society as he shapes his 2028 policy agenda.