The Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists (GACRA) has threatened to embark on an industrial strike beginning December 1, 2026, if the government fails to address longstanding grievances affecting its members and the provision of anaesthesia services across the country.
The association indicated that it had repeatedly petitioned the government over the past four years, seeking interventions to resolve persistent challenges confronting the profession, but maintained that successive appeals had not received the necessary attention.
GACRA President, James Nwinsagra, disclosed the impending industrial action while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the association’s 8th Annual General Meeting held in Accra.
He expressed concern over the steady decline in the number of practising anaesthetists in Ghana, revealing that the country’s professional workforce had reduced significantly from 1,200 to just 582.
According to him, the dwindling number of specialists presents a serious challenge to the delivery of essential anaesthesia services and could further undermine the country’s healthcare system if urgent measures are not introduced to reverse the situation.
Mr Nwinsagra consequently appealed for increased government investment in professional training institutions and the necessary infrastructure to expand training opportunities, strengthen workforce development and address the growing shortage of qualified personnel.
He emphasised that the proposed industrial action was not the association’s preferred course of action but warned that its members might have little alternative if the government continued to neglect their concerns.
He explained that the difficulties confronting anaesthesia services had persisted for several years, despite repeated engagements and formal representations to the relevant authorities.
“It is not deliberate to go on strike. Anaesthesia has faced a lot of challenges. We are in a crisis in Ghana, and the employer hasn’t actually paid much attention to our needs and the issues we have been raising,” he stated.
He further disclosed that the association had pursued several avenues over the past four years to secure government intervention, including submitting petitions, but had yet to obtain the desired response.
“This has been going on for over four years. We have submitted petitions and taken other steps, but our concerns have not received the needed attention. Maybe this is the only language they will pay attention to when it comes to anaesthesia services,” he added.
The threatened industrial action raises concerns about potential disruptions to surgical procedures and other medical interventions requiring anaesthesia services if the disagreement remains unresolved.
The association is therefore urging the government to address its outstanding demands before the December 1 deadline to avert a possible disruption to healthcare delivery and prevent further pressure on an already declining professional workforce.
