By Caleb Kuleke, GNA
Ho, Oct.16, GNA- The National Association of Registered Midwives Ghana (NARM-GH) has urged its members to remain calm, resolute, and united following the Accra High Court’s rejection of its application for contempt.
In a press release signed and copied to the Ghana News Agency, Mr. Zakaria Haruna Tahir, the National Public Relations Officer of NARM-GH, expressed gratitude to members for their unwavering loyalty, resilience, commitment, and continued dedication to maternal and child healthcare across Ghana.
According to the release, the Association’s legal team initiated contempt proceedings earlier this year against the National Labour Commission and the Chief Labour Officer at the Accra High Court, with the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) also joined as a party to the matter.
The statement highlighted that the NARM-GH acquired a bargaining certificate in 2016 on behalf of all midwives in Ghana.
“This was aimed at ensuring Ghanaian midwives were placed on the appropriate salary scale, fairly reflecting their job descriptions, responsibilities, and the unique challenges they faced daily in their professional duties,” it said.
However, the release said, the certificate was challenged by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) on the grounds that nurses and midwives belong to the same class of workers, arguing that both professions should remain on the same salary level and negotiate under a single bargaining certificate.
According to the press release, the NARM-GH strongly disagreed with this stance, maintaining that midwifery was a unique profession with distinct responsibilities that merit separate consideration and independent bargaining power.
To resolve the dispute, the statement said, NARM-GH escalated the matter to court, and on October 18, 2018, the court ruled in favour of NARM-GH, explicitly recognising nurses and midwives as distinct classes of workers and affirming the unique nature of the midwifery profession.
“The Court’s decision supported the preservation of the bargaining certificate obtained by NARM-GH,” the statement noted.
However, the release indicated that in December 2022, the National Labour Commission (NLC) withdrew NARM-GH’s certificate without the prior court judgment being set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The release noted that the NARM-GH viewed this move as legally questionable and a direct violation of the subsisting court decision, and in response, the Association initiated contempt proceedings against both the National Labour Commission and the Chief Labour Officer.
“However, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, the Court delivered its ruling and rejected the application,” the release stated.
It said that the leadership of the NARM-GH was currently awaiting the full written judgment and once received, they and their legal team would carefully review it and thoroughly assess the available options and determine the next appropriate legal and administrative steps.
“We understand that this outcome may be disappointing and disheartening to many midwives, particularly those who have long hoped for a review of our salary structure, allowances, and other remunerations to reflect the unique nature of our profession,” the statement added.
The release further emphasised that the Association believed the current arrangement under the Nurses’ Bargaining Certificate had failed to adequately address these critical welfare concerns.
In light of the ruling, NARM-GH appealed to both members and non-members to appreciate the significance of the issue and to steadfastly support the Association’s legitimate efforts to protect the collective interests of every midwife in Ghana.
The release assured midwives that the ruling did not mark the end of their collective pursuit of fairness, professional recognition, and improved conditions of service.
It said the leadership of NARM-GH remained fully committed to safeguarding the rights, interests, and welfare of midwives through every lawful and legitimate avenue available.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah