Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh Sets Recruitment Deadline as Government Clears Arrears for 13,500 Workers

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has directed all newly recruited health professionals to report to their designated facilities by August 20, 2026, or forfeit their appointments. This directive comes alongside the significant announcement that the government has successfully cleared salary arrears for over 13,500 healthcare workers, signaling a dual effort to bolster the national health workforce and resolve long-standing labor grievances. While the Ministry moves to streamline the deployment of personnel, ongoing industrial action by administrative staff at the University of Ghana Hospital continues to pose challenges to healthcare delivery.

Minister Akandoh emphasized that the strict reporting deadline is essential to prevent delays in filling critical vacancies across the country. Unlike previous recruitment cycles where delays in financial clearance led to payment issues, the Minister assured that funding has been secured in advance for this cohort to ensure they receive salaries without delay. Professionals who fail to report by the August 20 deadline will be replaced through a subsequent "mop-up" recruitment exercise. This initiative is part of a larger strategy to expand the healthcare sector, with the government planning to recruit an additional 16,000 health professionals before the end of 2026.

The resolution of salary arrears for 13,500 health workers marks a major milestone for the Ministry and the Mahama administration. During a meeting with the Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives of Ghana, Akandoh explained that the previous backlog was exacerbated by professionals commencing work before financial clearance was finalized. With funding now secured and payments made, the Coalition expressed gratitude for the Minister's intervention and indicated that the group would soon rename itself to reflect their improved status. The Ministry has pledged to expedite any remaining individual cases to ensure all eligible staff are compensated.

Despite these advancements in personnel management, the sector faces immediate pressure from the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA), whose members began a strike on August 13. The industrial action has paralyzed routine services at the University of Ghana Hospital, including outpatient consultations, specialist clinics, and pharmacy counseling. While the emergency department remains open, patients have issued urgent appeals for a resolution, citing the risks of delayed medical care. A meeting is scheduled for August 18 to address the GAUA’s demands regarding market premiums and retirement arrangements, which will be crucial in restoring full operations at the facility.