Over what it claims is the unlawful dismissal of the Head of Laboratory Services at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU) has announced a national strike that will start on May 12, 2026.
The Union claimed in a notice issued on Tuesday, May 5, under the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), that the hospital’s administration had violated agreements made at a high-level stakeholder meeting called by the Ministry of Health on February 3, 2026.
The appointment of a Medical Laboratory Scientist as head of the department was one of the resolutions that prompted the Union, along with the Ghana Federation of Allied Health Professions, to, in good faith, call off an earlier scheduled industrial action, according to MELPWU.
The Union, however, contends that the CEO, Director of Medical Affairs, and Director of Human Resources at KBTH acted in bad faith by reversing the choice and reassigning the selected head to comply with demands from doctors.
It also asserted that hospital management appointed a doctor to head the department, which it said was in violation of the current governance system of medical laboratory services and threatens professional standards.
The Union said that the action violated binding administrative agreements that had been disclosed to the National Labor Commission, disrupted established dispute resolution procedures, and posed a threat to industrial peace in the health industry.
In response, MELPWU has made a number of requests, such as the immediate restoration of the Medical Laboratory Scientist to his position as Head of Laboratory Services at KBTH and the rigorous enforcement of the prior agreements reached under the direction of the Ministry of Health.
Additionally, the Union is advocating for a distinct regulatory council to oversee the work of medical laboratory professionals in Ghana as well as a transparent leadership structure.
Furthermore, it is calling for the dismissal or resignation of important hospital officials, such as Prof. Titus Beyuo, the Board Chairman; Dr. Y.S. Adam, the Chief Executive Officer; and Dr. Frank Owusu-Sekyere, the Director of Medical Affairs, whom it is accusing of partiality and conflict of interest.
Although MELPWU maintains that it is still open to urgent involvement within the statutory notice time to break the impasse, it also cautioned that if the concerns are not resolved, it could cause a breakdown in vital health services across the country.
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