News

Delay in nurses’ conditions of service caused by internal union dispute – FWSC

Published

1 year ago

June 12, 2025

The Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), George Smith-Graham, has blamed internal disputes within the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) for the delay in implementing their revised conditions of service.

Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Wednesday, June 11, Smith-Graham dismissed claims that the government had deliberately stalled the process, explaining that a legal injunction resulting from the union’s internal wrangling halted implementation efforts.

“…Clearly, they know themselves that the delay in the implementation of the conditions of service had nothing to do with the government. It had to do with their internal wrangling that brought about the injunction on the implementation of their conditions of service,” he stated.

Following the legal setback, he said the FWSC intervened to salvage the process. With the current agreement set to expire next year, the Commission proposed a compromise: a deferred implementation date that would still guarantee the full benefits of the revised agreement.

“When that happened, we quickly came in because the conditions of service are going to expire just next year. So, we as a Commission came in to request some agreement on the implementation date and the expiry of the conditions of service,” Smith-Graham noted.

He further clarified that the government’s proposal to shift implementation to 2026 was to allow for fiscal space to enable full rollout.

“That is why we put before them a proposal to attempt to shift the implementation date of the conditions of service. For the rest of the conditions of service, we have agreed. All we were looking for was a shift in the implementation date so that they can enjoy the full benefit of the conditions of service, and also the government will have some fiscal space to be able to implement the conditions of service fully for them.”

Despite these efforts, the nationwide strike declared by the GRNMA remains unresolved. The association has rejected the proposed 2026 implementation timeline and continues to demand immediate action.

This follows an emergency closed-door meeting held on Monday, June 9, involving the Ministry of Health, GRNMA leadership, and other key stakeholders. The meeting ended without a resolution.

citinewsroom.com

Education

Over 10 Students Arrested Over Okuapeman-Mount Sinai SHS Clash

Published

10 hours ago

September 3, 2026

AladdynKing

More than 10 students have been apprehended in connection with the clashes between Okuapeman Senior High School and Mount Sinai Senior High School in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region.

The arrests follow reprisal attacks between students of the two schools, which resulted in the burning and destruction of several structures on both campuses in the early hours of Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, September 2, Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joseph Owusu-Bempah, said some of the students fled their schools when the police arrived. Still, he warned that their absence would not prevent the police from arresting them.

“We have apprehended them. And there are more,” he said, adding that the police are compiling a comprehensive list of all persons involved in the violence.

He disclosed that the investigation had also uncovered information suggesting that some teachers may have encouraged students to attack their counterparts.

According to him, the police have obtained the names of teachers allegedly linked to the incident and will take action against them if investigations establish their involvement.

“We have the names of the teachers. They have nowhere to go. At the appropriate time, we will arrest all of them, and their names will be published,” DCOP Owusu-Bempah warned.

DCOP Owusu-Bempah assured the public that anyone found to have participated in the violence would be dealt with in accordance with the law, while urging students to return to school and cooperate with the investigation.

He also appealed against any interference in the police process, warning that such actions could undermine efforts to restore calm and ensure accountability.

At Okuapeman SHS, six students were injured and taken to hospital following the incident. The school’s Headmaster said four of the students had since been treated and discharged, while two remained on admission as of Wednesday.

The exact trigger for the clashes remains unclear, but the police have begun investigations to establish what led to the confrontation and identify all those responsible.

citinewsroom.com

Education

GES Releases National Harmonised Prospectus For 2026/27 SHS Admissions

Published

11 hours ago

September 3, 2026

AladdynKing

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced the release of the National Harmonised Prospectus for prospective Senior High School (SHS) and Senior High Technical School (SHTS) students for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The prospectus is intended to guide parents and students on the essential items required for enrolment, covering both boarding and day students.

GES has urged parents and students preparing for the next stage of their education to carefully review the prospectus and make the necessary preparations ahead of the commencement of the new academic year.

Schools and other relevant stakeholders have also been directed to adhere to the requirements outlined in the prospectus to ensure a smooth, consistent and standardised admission process nationwide.

The release of the prospectus comes ahead of the announcement of school placements and is expected to help newly admitted students and their parents adequately prepare for enrolment once placements are released.

Parents and prospective students are therefore encouraged to familiarise themselves with the approved requirements to avoid challenges during the admission process.

Below is the list of items outlined in the prospectus that parents and guardians are required to acquire for their wards: