The Ministry of Health has recruited 6,245 nurses and midwives out of 6,500 available slots in a recent nationwide exercise aimed at strengthening primary healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved regions.
Backed by financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance to hire about 8,000 health professionals, the initiative addresses a national backlog of approximately 105,000 unemployed but qualified health workers.
The recruitment also successfully placed 771 allied health professionals out of 900 slots, 235 pharmacy professionals out of 250 slots, and 300 physician assistants.
At a press conference in Accra, Frederick Mensah-Acheampong, the Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Health, noted that while 87 nursing slots remain unfilled in Northern districts, the process was highly competitive.
He emphasised that the exercise aligns with the government’s Primary Healthcare policy, which prioritizes preventive care, community-based services, and rural healthcare delivery.
“We have received financial clearance to recruit about 8,000 health professionals from the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry acknowledges the anxiety and interest these recruitment exercises have generated, particularly given the backlog of about 105,000 unemployed health professionals, some of whom have been awaiting recruitment since 2018 and 2019,” Mr. Mensah-Acheampong stated.
The Ministry will conduct a mop-up exercise in the coming weeks to absorb eligible applicants who have not yet completed the process.
