The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) on Wednesday swore in a 29-member National Council to manage the affairs of the Association for a four-year term.
The Council is made up of directors and managers, principals of nurses and midwifery training institutions and general nurses and midwives performing varied roles in the health sector. Members of the Council were sworn into office for a four-year tenure after having been elected at the regional level.
They swore an ‘Oath of Office’ to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution of the Association and to be of good behaviour at all times in the execution of their duties.
The Council Members also promised to protect and preserve the image of the Nursing and Midwifery profession and seek the welfare of all members as they have been mandated by the Constitution.
Each member swore an ‘Oath of Secrecy’ not to directly or indirectly reveal to any person any matter, which shall be brought under their consideration or to their knowledge in the discharge of their duties, except as might be permitted by the Constitution.
Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, the President of the GRNMA, reminded the Council of its duties to make recommendations and suggestions to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana on matters affecting education and practice for consideration and approval.
Members are also to recommend to the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council the removal or suspension of a nurse or midwife, review or rectify decisions and actions of the National Executive Committee and the various committees, and appoint ad-hoc committees to deal with specific matters.
Other duties, she said, include the recommendation of policies for debate for approval and adoption by the National Delegates Conference, taking emergency measures, appointing auditors to audit the annual accounts of the Association and approving funds and development projects as deemed necessary by the National Executive.
Mrs Ofori-Ampofo entreated Council members to put their differences aside and work together to take the Association to a better height.
She also encouraged them to visit their colleagues at the various health facilities in their respective regions to ascertain how well they were coping with work in these trying times of the COVID-19.
As leaders of the Association, she said the position did not give them an opportunity to lord over their members, but to serve them with dedication in humility.
Mr Patrice Seddoh, a Lawyer, who swore the Council members into office, advised them to take the oaths seriously and serve with total commitment and loyalty.
“You must uphold the values of the Association and not take your practices and values for granted. So don’t just swear the oath, but mean every word you say in the oath,” he advised.
Although there could be challenges in the course of duty, he said remembering the oaths would let them act in the supreme interest of the Association.
“I plead with you to have it in mind that in every situation, you must try as much as possible to exhaust external practices that will unite and help you to work together. Let your slogan, ‘Unity is Strength' guide you in the execution of your duties,” he said.
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