The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has defended its decision to continue its ongoing strike.

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In an interview on Channel One on Saturday, June 7, it noted that the move is the only way to compel the government to address the group's concerns.

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He stated that GRNMA will not participate in any further negotiations until their entitlements under the signed agreement are fulfilled.

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“Looking at what we have, the only tool we have that we can take to let the employer listen is that we have taken and we passed through due process. So we feel that Ghanaians are affected in a way, but that is the weapon we have. If you don’t want to sign it, something that is binding on the employer, you don’t want to sign it, and you call me to come and sit down again, that is something we can’t pick,” he stated.

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Members of GNRMA have withdrawn from their posts over delays in their 2024 Collective Agreement.

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In response, a 10-day injunction has been placed on the nationwide strike after the Industrial and Labour Division of the High Court in Accra described the protest as illegal.

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The order comes after the National Labour Commission (NLC) filed an ex parte application on Thursday, June 5.

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Meanwhile, the GRNMA has disclosed that it is yet to formally receive a court order restraining its ongoing strike.

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Public Relations Officer of the GRNMA, Joseph Krampah, has insisted that the group will continue its strike until an official injunction notice is served.

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According to him, although the Association is a law-abiding group, it cannot obey unofficial reports.

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“They think that they should serve us a letter; we can’t prevent them, but what constitutes an illegal strike? When in Ghana has the Labour Commission said that this strike is legal? It is only illegal when they don’t inform your office about the intended strike, and we did—you had the letter,” Krampah said.

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Adding: “If you are declaring it as illegal or whatever and you are bringing injunction, that is your job to do, and we respect the court and the NLC very much. We are law-abiding people. But just that things that we have not seen, we cannot act on them. I am saying that we haven’t received any letter. None of the executives have been served any letter about that. So till we know that, aluta continua.”

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However, to ensure that the general public continues to access quality healthcare, the Health Ministry has instructed all hospital managers, particularly Directors of Nursing Services and their Deputies, to be present at work at all times during the period of the industrial action.

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