More than 99% of the 13,500 nurses and midwives recruited in 2024 have received their salary arrears. This follows the release of financial clearance, as disclosed by the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. The announcement came after a meeting between the Minister and the Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives of Ghana.
The Coalition, led by its president Stephen Kwadwo Takyia, visited the Ministry to express gratitude for resolving their employment and salary concerns. These healthcare professionals had begun working without financial clearance, creating significant challenges for the government in processing their salaries. The government allowed them to remain at their posts while the Ministry of Health worked with the Ministry of Finance to secure the necessary funding.
This resolution is crucial for Ghana's public health sector, which frequently faces challenges with human resource management and timely salary payments. Such delays can lead to low morale among healthcare workers and potential disruptions in service delivery. Ensuring prompt payment is vital for retaining skilled professionals and maintaining a stable healthcare system, which is a cornerstone of economic productivity and social welfare.
Minister Akandoh explained that financial clearance has now been secured for all 13,500 affected health professionals. Only a few isolated cases remain to be resolved. He has directed the Human Resource Directorate of the Ministry to expedite action to clear these outstanding cases. This proactive approach aims to prevent future recurrences of salary payment delays.
The Minister also instructed health-sector agencies to fast-track the issuance of appointment letters and the mechanisation of newly recruited health professionals. This measure will prevent delays in salary payments for future recruits. This directive underscores a commitment to improving administrative efficiency within the health sector.
Mr. Akandoh further disclosed that the government plans to recruit 16,000 health professionals in 2026. Financial clearance has already been secured for the first 8,000 recruits. The Ministry will secure clearance for the remaining 8,000 before their recruitment. This measure is intended to prevent a repeat of the salary arrears experienced by the 2024 recruits, ensuring a smoother integration into the public service.
The Minister urged newly recruited health professionals to report to their assigned health facilities by August 20, 2026. He warned that failure to meet this deadline could result in the loss of their appointments. He also encouraged health workers to serve with dedication and treat patients with respect and dignity, emphasising patient-centred care.
The Coalition commended Mr. Akandoh and the Ministry for their continued engagement and efforts to resolve the payment challenges. The group expressed optimism that with the arrears largely cleared, it would soon shed the label “Unpaid” from its name. This positive development signals a step towards greater stability and satisfaction within Ghana's healthcare workforce.