"Aluta Continua": Nurses' strike persists as GRNMA awaits official injunction notice

The nationwide strike by nurses and midwives is ongoing. The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has not received a formal notice of a High Court injunction. This injunction orders them to return to work.

The National Labour Commission (NLC) secured the injunction on June 5, 2025. However, the GRNMA insists their "struggle continues" until they are legally served.

The strike began on June 4 and has severely impacted healthcare services. Over 300 public hospitals and clinics across all 16 regions are affected.

Thousands of patients are stranded as emergency units operate minimally. Scheduled surgeries have been postponed indefinitely.

Vulnerable groups, like pregnant women and young children, are particularly affected. Non-emergency patient care has dropped by 80-90% in some facilities.

On June 6, Joseph Krampah spoke to Citi News about the situation. He is the Public Relations Officer for the GRNMA.

He stated that they cannot act on something they haven't received. "What constitutes an illegal strike?" he asked, challenging the NLC's declaration.

Krampah emphasized that they respect the court and NLC but need proper notification first. He confirmed that none of their executives have received any letter regarding the injunction.

The GRNMA initiated this strike due to delays in implementing their 2024 Collective Agreement. They have grievances over unpaid allowances totaling millions of cedis.

Additionally, over 5,000 newly qualified nurses and midwives await official postings since late 2024. This delay hinders their professional integration into the workforce.

While the NLC's injunction aims to compel over 128,000 members back to work, non-service creates an unusual impasse.

In the coming days, it will be crucial to see if legal processes can deliver notice to GRNMA leadership or if the healthcare crisis will worsen as their "struggle continues."