MELPWU to embark on nationwide strike over removal of Korle-Bu Laboratory Head

The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU) has officially informed the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Labour Commission (NLC) of its intention to embark on a nationwide strike from Tuesday, May 12, 2026, if grievances over the removal of the Head of Laboratory Services at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) remain unresolved.

In a statement dated May 5, 2026, the Union described the removal of the duly appointed Medical Laboratory Scientist as unlawful and a breach of resolutions reached at a high‑level stakeholder meeting convened by the Ministry of Health on February 3, 2026.

Those resolutions, according to the Union, which were communicated to the National Labour Commission, had earlier led MELPWU and allied unions to suspend planned industrial action in good faith.

The Union further added that KBTH management, including the CEO, Director of Medical Affairs, and Director of Human Resources, acted in bad faith by reassigning the laboratory head to satisfy demands from physicians and imposing an alternative leadership arrangement inconsistent with the agreed governance framework.

Korle Bu Doctors Association calls off strike

MELPWU also argued that this undermines the professional structure of laboratory services and threatens industrial harmony.

“We demand the immediate reinstatement of the duly appointed Medical Laboratory Scientist as Head of Laboratory Services at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. There must be a clear leadership structure and a separate regulatory council to coordinate the activities of all practitioners to ensure accountability in laboratory service delivery.

We expect strict adherence to the resolutions reached under the auspices of the Ministry of Health in February 2026.

Finally, we call for the resignation or removal of the KBTH Board Chairman, Prof Titus Beyuo, CEO Dr Y.S. Adam, and Director of Medical Affairs Dr Frank Owusu‑Sekyere, whose actions have been conflicted, biased, and disruptive to the health sector,” the statement read.

Read the full statement below:



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