The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU) has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike over what it describes as the unfair removal of the Head of Laboratory Services at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
In a letter dated May 5, 2026, addressed to key institutions including the Office of the President, the Ministry of Health, and the National Labour Commission, the union warned that the industrial action will begin on Tuesday, May 12, if the matter is not resolved.
According to MELPWU, the decision follows what it calls the unilateral and unlawful removal of a duly appointed Medical Laboratory Scientist from the leadership role, in violation of prior agreements.
The union explained that the appointment was made based on resolutions from a high-level stakeholder meeting convened by the Ministry of Health on February 3, 2026—agreements that had earlier led to the suspension of a planned strike.
However, MELPWU alleges that management of KBTH disregarded those resolutions. It claims that hospital leadership reassigned the appointed head and replaced the individual with a physician, contrary to established governance structures.
The union argues that the move undermines the professional integrity of laboratory services and breaches agreements reported to the National Labour Commission.
MELPWU has outlined several demands, including:
Immediate reinstatement of the removed Medical Laboratory Scientist
Establishment of a clear leadership structure for laboratory services
Creation of a separate regulatory council for medical laboratory practice
Strict adherence to earlier Ministry-led resolutions
The union is also calling for the removal or resignation of key hospital officials, including Board Chairman Titus Beyuo, Chief Executive Officer Y.S. Adam, and Director of Medical Affairs Frank Owusu-Sekyere, citing alleged bias and conflict of interest.
MELPWU warned that failure to address the issue could disrupt healthcare delivery nationwide but indicated it remains open to dialogue within the notice period to avert the strike.
