The Trades Union Congress (Ghana) has welcomed a recent advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), describing it as a major breakthrough in the global recognition of workers’ right to strike under international law.
The ruling, delivered last Thursday, affirmed that workers and their organisations are entitled to strike action under the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (ILO Convention No. 87).
In a statement issued in Accra and signed by its General Secretary, Joshua Ansah, the TUC Ghana said the decision marks a historic validation of long-standing labour advocacy, stressing that the right to strike is a fundamental right rather than a discretionary privilege.
According to the union, the ICJ opinion strengthens global labour protections and reinforces key principles of collective bargaining, industrial action, and workplace democracy as essential tools for achieving social justice and decent work.
The TUC also commended the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and its legal team for their role in advancing the case, describing their contribution as courageous and principled in defending workers’ interests before the court.
It further acknowledged the leadership of Mr Paapa Danquah, Director of Legal Affairs at ITUC and former legal director of TUC Ghana, who led the legal arguments in the proceedings.
The advisory opinion was issued following a request from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Governing Body to clarify whether the right to strike is protected under Convention No. 87 amid differing interpretations among member states.
By a majority decision, the ICJ confirmed that the right to strike is indeed protected, a ruling labour advocates say will shape future industrial relations debates worldwide.
