Table of Contents

Health Ministry Clears Salary Arrears for 99% of 13,500 Nurses and Midwives

The Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives of Ghana has commended the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, for successfully resolving the long-standing salary arrears of nurses and midwives recruited in 2024.

More than 99 per cent of the 13,500 affected health professionals have now received their salaries following sustained engagement between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance.

Coalition Pays Courtesy Call

President of the Coalition, Stephen Kwadwo Takyia, led a delegation to the Ministry of Health to formally express appreciation to the Minister and his officials for their efforts in addressing the group’s employment and salary concerns.

The Coalition noted that the intervention has brought significant relief to the affected nurses and midwives, many of whom had worked for several months without pay.

How the Arrears Were Resolved

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh explained that the affected health professionals had begun work without financial clearance, creating a difficult situation for the government.

Rather than withdrawing their appointments, the Ministry chose to retain them at post while working with the Ministry of Finance to secure the necessary funding.

According to the Minister, financial clearance has now been secured for all 13,500 workers, with only a few isolated cases yet to be resolved. He has directed the Human Resource Directorate to expedite action on the remaining cases.

Mr Akandoh also instructed health-sector agencies to fast-track the issuance of appointment letters and the mechanisation of newly recruited health professionals to ensure timely processing of their salaries.

Plans to Prevent Future Arrears

Looking ahead, the Minister disclosed that the government plans to recruit 16,000 health professionals in 2026. Financial clearance has already been secured for the first 8,000, and clearance for the remaining 8,000 will be obtained before recruitment begins. This measure is intended to prevent a recurrence of the salary arrears experienced by the 2024 recruits.

Call to Newly Recruited Health Workers

Mr Akandoh urged newly recruited health professionals to report to their assigned facilities by August 20, 2026. He warned that failure to report by the deadline could result in the loss of their appointments.

He also encouraged all health workers to serve with dedication and treat patients with respect and dignity, emphasising the need to keep patients at the centre of healthcare delivery.

Coalition Optimistic About Future

The Coalition expressed appreciation to the Minister and the Ministry for their continued engagement and support. Members said they were optimistic that, with the payment challenges largely addressed, the group would soon no longer be known as the Coalition of “Unpaid” Nurses and Midwives.

The successful clearance of arrears for over 99% of the affected nurses and midwives marks a significant step in addressing one of the major challenges facing Ghana’s health workforce in recent years.