Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has announced that government has begun disbursing long-overdue salary arrears to 321 Pharmacist House Officers who completed their training in 2024.
The announcement was made during the Government Accountability Series held in Accra on Friday, July 18.
Addressing journalists, Mr. Akandoh described the move as a vital breakthrough in resolving chronic issues of delayed remuneration within the health sector — a problem that has plagued newly qualified professionals for years.
“I am proud to share that we have taken decisive steps to clear the salary arrears for 321 Pharmacist House Officers who completed training in 2024, with payments now being processed,” the Minister declared.
He acknowledged the difficult reality faced by young pharmacists who had completed their housemanship and served the country with dedication, only to face months of financial uncertainty due to unpaid entitlements. Mr. Akandoh assured that the Mahama administration is committed to permanently ending this cycle of neglect.
In a further policy move to bolster the health workforce, the Minister revealed that the Ministry of Health is actively working to absorb over 1,600 qualified pharmacists into permanent employment.
“While 1,621 qualified pharmacists await permanent employment, we are prioritising their recruitment as part of strengthening our health workforce,” he told reporters.
The salary payments and recruitment plan form part of a wider health sector reform agenda aimed at eliminating systemic bottlenecks that have hindered Ghana’s ability to utilise its growing pool of trained health professionals.
“This is just one example of our broader commitment to clearing the backlog across all health worker cadres, ensuring every qualified professional has the chance to serve and strengthen Ghana’s health system,” he emphasized.
The Minister’s statement signals renewed momentum in addressing what many within the health sector see as a longstanding injustice — the underutilisation and underpayment of trained professionals in the face of persistent staffing shortages in Ghana’s hospitals and clinics.
