The High Court in Accra has intervened in the ongoing standoff between the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and the government by placing an injunction on the nationwide strike that has disrupted healthcare delivery across the country.
Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori, who presided over the matter, described the strike as illegal and ordered the association to immediately call off the action.
The injunction, which will be in effect for ten days, was granted following an ex-parte motion filed by the National Labour Commission. During this period, the NLC has the option to return to court to seek an extension—this time, however, only through a formal notice to the GRNMA.
The court’s directive bars the association, including its executives and members, from continuing with what it termed an unlawful strike.
The GRNMA declared its intention to strike on May 29, citing unfulfilled promises linked to allowances, accommodation, and heavy workloads.
Despite an invitation from the Labour Commission to resolve the matter in a scheduled meeting with key government bodies, the association refused to participate and proceeded with the industrial action.
This defiance prompted swift reactions, with the NLC declaring the strike illegal under the Labour Act and instructing an immediate return to work.
Government agencies, including the Ministries of Health and Finance and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, have all expressed concern, warning that the strike could cripple the public healthcare system.
Already, hospitals have begun to feel the impact, with services scaled down and wards left understaffed.
