Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has announced that the Ministry of Health is awaiting additional financial clearance to begin the second phase of its recruitment exercise for 16,000 health professionals in Ghana.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Monday, October 19, 2026, the minister said the next phase would involve recruiting an additional 8,000 health workers to complete the planned intake.
According to Mr Akandoh, the government remains committed to regular recruitment into the health sector, although clearing the backlog of unemployed health professionals will require time and sustained investment.
Government Moves to Address Unemployed Health Workers
The Health Minister explained that the government is still working to address the employment backlog involving health professionals who completed their training between 2021 and 2025 but have yet to secure jobs.
He said the planned recruitment exercise forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare workforce and improve staffing levels across health facilities.
However, the commencement of the second phase depends on the release of the necessary financial clearance.
Ghana Explores Overseas Jobs for Health Professionals
In addition to domestic recruitment, the government is exploring international employment opportunities for qualified Ghanaian health professionals through a proposed Ghana Labour Exchange Programme.
Mr Akandoh disclosed that he recently travelled to Columbus, United States, to sign a memorandum of understanding with a mayor aimed at facilitating overseas employment opportunities for Ghanaian healthcare workers.
The proposed initiative is expected to complement local recruitment by connecting qualified professionals with job opportunities abroad.
The government’s approach seeks to address unemployment among trained health workers while creating additional career opportunities and strengthening the management of Ghana’s healthcare workforce.
Source: newsthemegh.com