UPNMG demands probe into Military brutality against healthcare workers in Bawku

The Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UPNMG), has raised alarm over alleged military brutality against healthcare workers in the conflict-hit Bawku Municipality.

The union described the attacks as unacceptable and a violation of the rights and safety of professionals who risk their lives to save others.

In a strongly worded statement, UPNMG condemned the reported violence, urging the government and the Ghana Armed Forces to take swift action.

“However, retaliatory attacks on innocent civilians, including essential healthcare workers, cannot and must not be justified under any circumstances,” the statement read.

According to John Agbenyeavu, the National Public Relations Officer of UPNMG, they acknowledge the difficult security situation in Bawku and express sympathy for fallen military personnel.

However, the union emphasized that healthcare workers must be protected, not targeted.

“Nurses and midwives play a critical role in providing care to the injured and the vulnerable, and their safety must be prioritized, not compromised,” said

Agbenyeavu warned, stressing that healthcare workers should not be expected to operate in unsafe conditions, calling for a full-scale independent investigation into the reported brutality, medical and psychological support for affected health workers, and concrete measures to ensure the safety of all healthcare professionals in conflict-prone areas.

“If this issue is not addressed with the urgency it deserves, we may be compelled to take drastic measures, including directing our members to lay down their tools.”

UPNMG is urging the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, and human rights organizations to support their demand for justice.

“The safety of those who provide essential medical care is non-negotiable, and we will not relent until appropriate action is taken,” the union asserted.