Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has revealed that more than 13 countries have expressed formal interest in hiring Ghanaian health professionals as part of a bold new managed migration strategy aimed at easing the backlog of unemployed medical personnel in the country.
Addressing the media during the Government Accountability Series on Friday, Mr. Akandoh outlined the government’s vision to create structured, mutually beneficial pathways for skilled health workers to gain employment abroad while maintaining robust healthcare delivery at home.
“To complement government recruitment, we are exploring managed migration and private sector options. Over 13 countries have now shown interest in recruiting Ghanaian health workers,” Mr. Akandoh stated.
He emphasized that the proposed programme is not a free-for-all migration scheme, but a tightly regulated framework that safeguards the interests of Ghana’s health system. According to him, new policy guidelines are currently being developed to ensure that the initiative delivers value both to the country and the professionals who participate.
“We are formulating policies to ensure these benefits are fairly distributed to both our health system and our professionals,” he added.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s dual approach of expanding domestic recruitment while also opening up international employment opportunities in a sustainable and controlled manner. He noted that managed migration is being pursued as a strategic tool—not as a substitute for government hiring, but as a complementary solution.
“Furthermore, we are also investing heavily in their professional development and welfare to ensure a motivated and skilled workforce. In this regard, the government has implemented Conditions of Service agreements with our health unions,” he explained.
Workforce retention, he noted, remains a top priority, with government consistently engaging stakeholders to improve working conditions and career prospects for Ghanaian medical professionals. Mr. Akandoh said these investments are part of a broader plan to ensure Ghana’s health sector is both resilient and globally competitive.
The managed migration programme, once fully operational, is expected to provide a win-win solution for Ghana and partner countries, helping to reduce unemployment in the health sector while deepening international cooperation in the delivery of healthcare services.
