Over 99% of 13,500 Unpaid 2024 Nurses and Midwives Now Paid, Health Minister Confirms

More than 99 per cent of the 13,500 nurses and midwives recruited in 2024 have now received their salary arrears, the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has confirmed.

The update was given when the President of the Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives of Ghana, Stephen Kwadwo Takyia, led a delegation to the Ministry of Health on Tuesday to thank the Minister and his officials for their intervention.

Hon. Akandoh explained that the affected health professionals had started work without financial clearance, a situation that put the government in a difficult position.

Rather than terminate their appointments, he said the Ministry chose to keep them at post and worked with the Ministry of Finance to secure funding for their salaries.

He said financial clearance has now been secured for all 13,500 workers, with only a few isolated cases outstanding. The Minister directed the Human Resource Directorate to expedite action to clear those remaining cases.

To avoid future delays, Hon. Akandoh also directed health-sector agencies to fast-track the issuance of appointment letters and the mechanisation of newly recruited health professionals to ensure salaries are processed without delay.

The Minister further disclosed that government is targeting the recruitment of 16,000 health professionals in 2026.

Financial clearance has already been secured for the first 8,000, and he assured that clearance for the remaining 8,000 will be obtained before recruitment to prevent a recurrence of arrears.

He urged newly recruited health professionals to report to their assigned facilities before August 20, 2026, warning that failure to report by the deadline could lead to the loss of their appointments.

He also called on health workers to serve with dedication and treat patients with respect and dignity, stressing that patients must remain at the centre of healthcare delivery.

The Coalition commended the Minister and the Ministry for their continued engagement and support.

Members said they are optimistic that, with the payment challenges largely resolved, the group would soon no longer be known as the Coalition of “Unpaid” Nurses and Midwives.

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