The government has secured financial clearance for 13,500 nurses and midwives whose salary payments were delayed after they were recruited without the required financial approval, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has announced.
The move is expected to resolve months of salary concerns among health professionals recruited in 2024, with only a few outstanding cases yet to be addressed.
Mr Akandoh disclosed this when a delegation from the Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives of Ghana, led by its President, Stephen Kwadwo Takyia, called on him at the Ministry of Health to express appreciation for his intervention in resolving their employment and salary challenges.
Explaining the circumstances surrounding the delayed payments, the Minister said the affected nurses and midwives had started work without financial clearance, creating a difficult situation for the government.
“The affected health professionals had commenced work without financial clearance, creating a difficult situation for Government,” he said.
Mr Akandoh said rather than revoke their appointments, the Ministry decided to retain the health professionals at post while engaging the Ministry of Finance to secure the necessary financial clearance to regularise their employment and facilitate salary payments.
He said those engagements had yielded results, with clearance now secured for virtually all the affected workers.
“Financial clearance has now been secured for all 13,500 workers, with only a few isolated cases remaining,” he stated.
The Minister subsequently directed the Ministry’s Human Resource Directorate to expedite action on the outstanding cases to ensure that all affected workers are captured for payment.
Ministry Moves to Prevent Future Salary Delays
Beyond resolving the current situation, Mr Akandoh directed health-sector agencies to speed up the issuance of appointment letters and mechanisation of newly recruited professionals to prevent similar salary delays.
He said newly recruited health workers should be processed promptly after appointment to ensure their salaries are paid without unnecessary delays.
The directive is expected to strengthen coordination between health-sector agencies and the relevant government institutions responsible for payroll processing.
Government Targets 16,000 Health Workers in 2026
Mr Akandoh also announced plans by the government to recruit 16,000 health professionals in 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen staffing across health facilities.
He disclosed that financial clearance had already been secured for the first 8,000 workers.
“Government is targeting the recruitment of 16,000 health professionals in 2026, with financial clearance already secured for the first 8,000,” he said.
The recruitment is expected to help address staffing needs within the health sector and deploy additional professionals to facilities requiring personnel.
Report by August 20 or Lose Appointment — Akandoh
The Health Minister, however, warned newly recruited health professionals to report to their assigned facilities by August 20, 2026, or risk losing their appointments.
“Those who fail to report by the deadline risk losing their appointments,” he cautioned.
Mr Akandoh also urged health professionals to demonstrate dedication in the discharge of their duties and treat patients with respect and dignity.
He stressed that patients must remain at the centre of healthcare delivery and called on health workers to uphold professionalism in their interactions with the public.
Unpaid Nurses, Midwives Hail Minister
The Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives of Ghana, meanwhile, commended Mr Akandoh and officials of the Ministry of Health for their engagement and efforts to address the salary challenges.
Coalition President Stephen Kwadwo Takyia led the delegation to formally express the group’s appreciation following the progress made in securing financial clearance for the affected workers.
Members expressed optimism that with the payment challenges largely resolved, the group would soon shed the “unpaid” label that had defined its campaign.
The development marks a significant step towards resolving the salary and employment concerns of thousands of nurses and midwives recruited in 2024 while the government prepares for another major round of health-sector recruitment in 2026.
