Story By: Akua Oteng Amponsah
The Assistant Public Relations Officer for the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Philemon Gyapong, has provided clarity on the Association’s stance regarding the injunction application filed by the National Labour Commission (NLC) against them.
In an interview, Gyapong emphasized that the Association’s lawyers will in time follow due process in responding to the injunction.
Gyapong explained that although the Association’s leadership is currently out of the country, the NLC has indicated its intention to serve the injunction via WhatsApp.
Given the Association’s commitment to upholding the law, Gyapong assured that upon receipt of the petition, the leadership will promptly notify their lawyers to take appropriate action within the constitutional framework.
“We are a law-abiding association, and once our leaders receive the injunction, they will act on it within the frames of the constitution,” Gyapong stated.
Regarding the Ministry of Health’s call for retired midwives and nurses to volunteer their services during this challenging time, marked by a rising death toll, Gyapong stressed that while lives are indeed at stake, the welfare of health workers is equally crucial.
He emphasized that the Association’s leadership is duty-bound to address the grievances of its members, and prioritizing government interests over those of its members would be misguided.
“Leaders are tasked with ensuring that the grievances of Association members are heard and addressed. How can we prioritize government’s interests over those of our members?” Gyapong questioned.
The conversation was in response to the High Court, Industrial and Labour Division 2, in Accra, which granted an application for substituted service, allowing the National Labour Commission (NLC) to serve an interlocutory injunction notice on the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
The decision follows a motion filed by the NLC on June 10, citing challenges in directly serving the GRNMA with the injunction order issued on June 5. The court, presided over by Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori, approved the request, outlining alternative methods of service.
