Ghana’s National Labour Commission has declared illegal a planned strike by the Ghana Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association, ordering the group to immediately abandon the action over violations of the country’s labor laws.
The ruling followed an emergency meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, involving the commission, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and GhATSEA, after the association announced plans to begin an indefinite strike on Thursday. The proposed action was intended to protest alleged salary disparities and to press for the removal of the GCAA’s director of human resources.
In its decision, the commission said GhATSEA lacks the legal authority to declare or carry out a strike, noting that it is an association rather than a registered labor union recognized under Ghana’s labor framework. As such, it has no mandate to negotiate collective agreements or initiate industrial action.
The commission said the planned strike would also violate provisions of the Labour Regulations, L.I. 1833, adding that the grievances cited by GhATSEA are already covered by an existing collective agreement. Only a recognized union, the commission said, has the legal standing to negotiate or enforce such agreements.
The NLC further ruled that GhATSEA has no capacity to appear before the commission and therefore no legal standing to declare a strike. It directed affected workers to pursue their concerns through the grievance mechanisms set out in the collective agreement and through the recognized union.
Once formally raised through the appropriate channels, the commission said, the issues should be addressed promptly by GCAA management in line with established labor procedures.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the ruling, saying it remains committed to staff welfare and human capacity development while ensuring the safe and uninterrupted operation of the country’s aviation services.
The decision effectively removes the risk of disruption to air traffic operations, underscoring the commission’s role in preserving industrial stability in a critical sector of the economy.
