Health Minister on salary arrears and recruitment for health workers

The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has said there has been significant progress in resolving the backlog of unpaid salaries and recruitment challenges within the health sector.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Monday, the Minister said his outfit has been working closely with the Ministry of Finance to address long-standing administrative and financial issues affecting thousands of health workers across the country.

According to Mr Akandoh, 883 medical house officers who began work in 2024 without pay have now been placed on salary. He added that clearance has been secured for 203 doctors who were recruited late last year.

The Ministry has also received approval for the recruitment of 800 doctors who completed their housemanship in 2024 but were awaiting placement.

Additionally, 321 pharmacists who completed their housemanship in early 2024 have now received their allowances.

Mr Akandoh further said 15,755 rotation nurses and midwives and 2,154 allied health interns, who had not been paid since completing their national service, will begin receiving their allowances from next month.

Addressing concerns about 13,500 nurses and midwives whose financial clearance expired before their postings, the Minister revealed that over 7,000 have already been paid, while clearance has been secured for the remaining 6,500, which will be processed immediately.

He assured health professionals that the Ministry remains committed to ensuring all affected workers are duly compensated and that measures are underway to prevent similar delays in the future.

“The government is determined to strengthen systems, uphold accountability, and protect the welfare of Ghana’s health workforce,” Mr Akandoh said.