Ghana’s Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has raised an alarm over the growing trend of trained health professionals seeking opportunities abroad, revealing that more than two-thirds of the country’s healthcare workforce is considering migration.
Speaking at the National Policy Dialogue in Accra on April 9, 2025, Mr. Akandoh described the situation as critical, warning that if not addressed, it could undermine the nation’s efforts to achieve equitable healthcare for all. The two-day forum, organized in partnership with the World Health Organization, focused on transforming Ghana’s health workforce to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“Over 66 percent of our health workers have expressed intentions to migrate,” he stated, underscoring the economic challenges and limited job opportunities that are driving the exodus. Despite increased training efforts, many health professionals are leaving due to poor working conditions, underemployment, and a lack of long-term career incentives.
Mr. Akandoh called on stakeholders to rethink current policies and adopt strategies that would improve retention, warning that the country cannot achieve its health goals if this trend continues.
In addition, Alhaji Hafiz Adam, Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, acknowledged that while the public health workforce has grown, challenges such as urban-rural imbalances and migration threats still persist.
The dialogue, which brought together officials, health institutions, and development partners, focused on enhancing health worker welfare and creating sustainable funding models for human resources in health.
