The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association’s (GRNMA) statewide strike has been halted by the Industrial and Labour Division of the High Court in Accra.
The court, led by Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori, declared the strike unlawful and issued an order for an interim injunction, directing the GRNMA to end it immediately.
The National Labour Commission (NLC) filed an ex-parte application, and the court issued the order on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
The NLC can request a new injunction from the court if they so want, but they can only do so by giving notice to GRNMA. The injunction will be in effect for ten days.
GRNMA, its executives, officials, members, agents, servants, workers, and other individuals associated with them were prohibited by the court’s ruling from continuing their unlawful strike.
“It is hereby ordered that the application is granted and the respondent herein, its executives, officers, members, agents, servants, employees, and other persons linked to the respondent are hereby enjoined or restrained from carrying on their illegal strike with immediate effect,” Justice Ofori stated in her order.
In a letter dated May 29, 2025, the GRNMA informed the NLC that it intended to take industrial action in response to the delays in the 2024 Collective Agreement’s implementation.
They claimed that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Ministry of Health had broken their commitments regarding workload, accommodations, and allowances.
Nevertheless, the Commission, using its authority under Section 138 of the Labour Act, ordered the organization to halt all planned activities, including the eventual termination of services and the wearing of red bands, while mediation was conducted.
The GRNMA chose to go on strike instead of attending the planned June 4 meeting with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, which was attended by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Health.
After declaring the industrial action unlawful, the NLC then ordered the GRNMA to immediately end the strike and resume work.
In accordance with Section 159 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), the Commission claims that the nurses and midwives did not follow the proper procedures.
While the ongoing industrial action threatens to bring down the already overburdened public healthcare system, the Ministry of Health also urged the nurses to return to work while negotiations continue. However, the strike continued to have an impact on the nation’s healthcare delivery, with some major hospitals finding it difficult to provide basic services due to some wards being abandoned.
Source: newsthemegh.com