After years of waiting, the 2020 cohort of trained nurses may finally be on the path to deployment as the Ministry of Health assures that arrangements are being finalised for their posting.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh met with representatives of the affected nurses on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in what sources described as a frank discussion over the prolonged delay and the hardships it has caused.
The nurses, many of whom have remained unemployed since completing their training, have been demanding immediate posting amid growing frustration over the government’s inaction.
Mr Akandoh acknowledged the severity of the situation and assured the group that the Ministry is working with the Ministry of Finance to secure the necessary financial clearance for their deployment.
“The Ministry values the contribution of every trained health professional to the development of our healthcare system. We are working tirelessly to ensure that every trained nurse is posted,” Mr Akandoh said.
His remarks come at a time when tensions are high within the health sector, following a nationwide strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), which was triggered by delays in implementing the 2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The strike, which began on June 2, was temporarily suspended on June 13 after the Health Committee of Parliament intervened. However, with a follow-up meeting now pushed to Thursday, July 10, GRNMA has warned of renewed industrial action should the government fail to honour its commitments.
The Ministry of Health has previously revealed that over 100,000 trained professionals—including nurses, pharmacists, environmental health officers, and other allied workers—remain unemployed due to the government’s delay in granting financial clearance.
While Mr Akandoh stopped short of providing a specific date, he reiterated the Ministry’s determination to resolve the issue, stating that talks with the Finance Ministry are progressing and that deployment should commence soon.
