The Minister of Health, Dr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the alarming rate of unemployment among Ghana’s health professionals, revealing that over 70,000 qualified workers are currently without jobs.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Dr. Akandoh said the Ministry of Health has commenced processes to recruit more than 900 medical doctors.

He disclosed that the Ministry is seeking financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance to facilitate the placements.

“The number of unemployed health professionals currently exceeds 70,000,” the Minister said, breaking down the figures to include 48,878 nurses, 21,570 allied health professionals, 1,621 pharmacists, and over 900 medical doctors.

Providing further details, Dr. Akandoh revealed the unemployment figures for nurses by graduating batch:

2021 batch – 15,947 nurses

2022 batch – 17,176 nurses

2023 batch – 15,755 nurses

He noted that no financial clearance has been granted for allied health professionals and pharmacists since 2019, contributing significantly to the backlog.

The Minister emphasised that the government is taking steps to resolve the situation, including engaging with over 13 countries that have expressed interest in recruiting Ghanaian nurses and health workers.

To manage this process responsibly, the Ministry is developing a policy framework that ensures international recruitment is conducted efficiently and in a manner that protects Ghanaian professionals.

Dr. Akandoh also highlighted the Ministry’s plans to collaborate with the private sector to absorb more health professionals into the workforce, which he said would not only create employment but also improve access to quality healthcare.

He raised concerns about the growing trend of health worker migration, revealing that approximately 66% of Ghanaian health professionals are considering relocating abroad due to poor working conditions, underemployment, and lack of long-term incentives.

In December 2024, about 15,000 nurses received financial clearance and were employed, although their payroll processing is still ongoing, the Minister said.

Dr. Akandoh assured the public of the Ministry’s commitment to reducing the backlog of unemployed health workers and enhancing healthcare delivery nationwide.

“We are engaging all relevant stakeholders and exploring every available avenue to ensure that our qualified health professionals are gainfully employed and that Ghanaians everywhere receive the healthcare they deserve,” he concluded.