The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU) has renewed its call for urgent action over the leadership and administrative impasse at the Central Medical Laboratory of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, warning that the situation continues to affect governance and service delivery.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Dr. Cephas Kofi Akortor, the union said it had received notice from the Ministry of Health indicating that a scheduled stakeholder review meeting had been postponed to allow the Technical Review Committee to finalise its report, now expected by May 18, 2026. MELPWU has since proposed May 19 for the next engagement.
While acknowledging the postponement, the union stressed that prolonged uncertainty over the laboratory’s management remains a serious concern, with implications for patient care, staff morale and overall service quality at the country’s premier referral facility.
MELPWU maintained that its demands are “unequivocal and non-negotiable.” These include the immediate reinstatement of Dr. Michael Amo Omari, whose appointment as Head of Laboratory Services at the Sub-BMC was revoked.
The union is also calling for disciplinary action against Dr. Asare Offei over remarks it describes as reckless and damaging in relation to laboratory test results from the facility.
It further demanded the reversal of what it called “unapproved and irregular alterations” to the laboratory’s leadership structure, organogram and reporting lines, insisting that established administrative procedures must be restored.
MELPWU also rejected the continuation of the current interim management arrangement, noting that its mandate expired on May 12, 2026. It warned that any extension could undermine accreditation standards, weaken supervision and destabilise operations.
According to the union, the issue is strictly professional and administrative, not personal or political, and should be treated as such.
“Our concerns have consistently centered on respect for due process and institutional fairness, protection of professional integrity and established administrative structures, and the preservation of industrial harmony within the health sector,” the statement said.
The union also dismissed suggestions of hostility between laboratory scientists and physicians, clarifying that no doctor has been denied access to the facility and no acts of intimidation have taken place.
MELPWU expressed appreciation to the National Labour Commission and the Ministry of Health for their involvement, but urged all parties to avoid public statements that could distort facts or escalate tensions.
It assured its members that it will continue to pursue a resolution through lawful and institutional channels while safeguarding the integrity and future of medical laboratory services in Ghana.