The Government of Ghana has resolved the salary arrears affecting 13,500 nurses and midwives recruited in 2024, with more than 99 percent of the affected health workers now receiving their outstanding wages.
The Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives of Ghana has commended the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, for his intervention and efforts to address the employment and salary challenges facing the affected healthcare professionals.
President of the Coalition, Stephen Kwadwo Takyia, led a delegation to the Ministry of Health to express appreciation to the Minister and his officials for their role in resolving the long-standing payment concerns.
Government Secures Financial Clearance for 13,500 Health Workers
Speaking on the issue, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh explained that the affected nurses and midwives had started working without the required financial clearance, creating a significant challenge for the government.
He said the government decided not to cancel their appointments but instead retained the health professionals at their assigned facilities while working with the Ministry of Finance to secure the necessary funding.
According to the Minister, financial clearance has now been obtained for all 13,500 nurses and midwives, although a few individual cases remain outstanding.
He has therefore directed the Human Resource Directorate of the Ministry of Health to speed up efforts to resolve the remaining cases.
The Minister also instructed health-sector agencies to accelerate the issuance of appointment letters and the mechanisation of newly recruited health professionals to ensure that their salaries are processed without unnecessary delays.
Ghana to Recruit 16,000 Health Professionals in 2026
The Health Minister further disclosed that the government plans to recruit approximately 16,000 health professionals in 2026 to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare workforce.
Financial clearance has already been secured for the first 8,000 recruits, while the government intends to obtain clearance for the remaining 8,000 before the recruitment exercise begins.
The move is aimed at preventing a repeat of the salary arrears and financial clearance challenges that affected previous healthcare recruits.
Nurses and Midwives Given August 20 Reporting Deadline
Mr Akandoh has urged newly recruited health professionals to report to their assigned health facilities by August 20, 2026.
He warned that recruits who fail to report by the stipulated deadline risk losing their appointments.
The Minister also encouraged nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers to perform their duties with commitment, professionalism and compassion. He stressed the importance of treating patients with respect and dignity while keeping patients at the centre of healthcare delivery.
Coalition Welcomes Resolution of Salary Arrears
The Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health for its continued engagement and support in resolving the payment challenges.
Members of the group expressed optimism that, following the payment of the outstanding salaries, they would soon no longer be identified as the coalition of “Unpaid” Nurses and Midwives.
The development is expected to provide financial relief to thousands of healthcare professionals and strengthen efforts to improve healthcare delivery and employment opportunities in Ghana.
Source: newsthemegh.com