Health Minister assures 6,500 unpaid nurses

The Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has assured the last batch of unpaid nurses of his unwavering commitment to resolving their salary challenges. This officially release came from the Ministry after the affected nurses went on demonstration on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

In the release, he noted that his ministry is working closely with the Minister of Finance to ensure all outstanding payments are cleared.

The Minister sympathized with the affected nurses, stressing that no worker should be engaged without valid financial clearance. He explained that this situation largely accounts for the salary delays.

Facts of the matter according to the Minister

1. In August 2024, the Ministry of Health received financial clearance to recruit about 13,500 nurses. However, this clearance expired in December 2024.

2. This meant that when the previous government was posting nurses, there was no financial provision available to cover their salaries. Instead of asking them to stay home, the current government allowed the nurses to continue working while provisions were made for their payment.

3. To date, over 7,000 nurses have been paid, and about 6,500 are awaiting payment. This is as result of special concessions made by these government to retain the nurses.

4. Once again, the Ministry will like to assure all affected nurses that their issue about their payment will be resolved soon.

5. A similar situation affected some pharmacists who started their housemanship in 2023 and completed in early 2024 but were not paid. The Ministry has since worked on their allowances and paid them accordingly.

6. A group of medical house officers who also started their house job in 2024 without payment, have also had their issue resolved.

7. The Ministry also wishes to assure rotation nurses and allied health interns who started their rotation in 2024 and did not receive any allowance that they will also be paid soon.

8. With the issue of the junior doctors, all the processes for their payment had been done but unfortunately, they were not paid, however, this has been resolved.

9. Government is adopting every pragmatic approach to deal with challenges this nature in the health sector.

10. Government is determined to address these challenges decisively going forward. The Health Minister reaffirmed his commitment to supporting health workers, stating that their welfare remains a priority as government works to strengthen Ghana’s health sector.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh