An interlocutory order has been issued by the Industrial and Labour Division of the High Court to halt the ongoing strike by members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).

The strike, which began on June 2, 2025, has been declared unlawful, and the affected nurses and midwives are required to return to work immediately. The High Court’s order follows earlier directions by the National Labour Commission (NLC), which also deemed the industrial action illegal.

The aggrieved health workers initiated the strike in protest against the government's failure to implement a collective bargaining agreement signed with the previous Akufo-Addo administration. The strike, now three days old, has already begun affecting patients, including those with serious medical conditions.

In its ruling dated June 5, 2025, the court granted an interlocutory injunction to stop the industrial action. The Registrar, Mame Daniels, stated:

“UPON READING the affidavit of MARTIN DIDEMUDO of house No. 0047.6998, Suhum in the Eastern Region of the Republic of Ghana, filed on the 5th day of June, 2025 in support of a motion Ex-parte for Interlocutory Injunction, AND UPON HEARING the submissions of ALEXANDER OWUSU JNR., ESQ., Counsel for the Plaintiff/Applicant, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the application is granted, and the Respondent—its Executives, Officers, Members, Agents, Servants, Employees, and other persons affiliated with the Respondent—are hereby restrained from continuing the illegal strike with immediate effect.”

The order will remain in force for ten (10) days. Upon expiration, the application must be refiled on notice to the respondent.

The NLC, in a statement issued on June 4, 2025, explained that the strike violated Section 159 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), because GRNMA's leadership failed to appear at a scheduled meeting with the Commission on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. This meeting was meant to address and resolve their concerns. Present at the meeting were the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (represented by its Chief Executive), the Ministry of Health, other relevant institutions, and the Ministry of Finance.

The NLC emphasized:

“The Commission declares the industrial action by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association as illegal and directs them to call it off with immediate effect.”

Furthermore, the Commission instructed the leadership of GRNMA to resume discussions with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission on implementing the collective agreement and to report the outcome to the Commission by June 25, 2025, at 2:30 p.m.

GRNMA President Perpetual Ofori Ampofo had earlier outlined the union’s industrial action schedule as follows:

June 2–3, 2025: Nurses and midwives to wear red headbands and armbands as a form of protest.

June 4–8, 2025: Suspension of all outpatient department (OPD) services.

June 9, 2025: Nationwide withdrawal of all nursing and midwifery services.

Later stages: Cessation of emergency services.

On May 28, 2025, approximately 128,000 nurses and midwives across the country signaled their readiness to strike due to the government's continued failure to fulfill the agreed terms of service.

The NLC also directed that all planned protest actions—from the wearing of red bands to the complete withdrawal of services—must be halted to enable the Commission to mediate effectively.

KA