The Minority in Parliament has raised alarm over what it describes as a looming crisis in Ghana’s health sector, following persistent delays in the payment of salaries to thousands of nurses and midwives across the country.
At a press briefing in Parliament, the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Dr. Ayew Afriyie, cautioned that the government’s continued failure to pay the affected health workers could trigger industrial unrest and cripple healthcare delivery nationwide.
Dr. Afriyie revealed that despite the Ministry of Finance granting financial clearance on July 17, 2024, for the recruitment of 15,200 nurses and midwives, less than half — between 7,000 and 8,000 — have been fully processed and paid. The rest, he said, have been working for months without pay, even though the necessary funds were released.
He expressed disappointment that the financial clearance expired on December 31, 2024, without any renewal or official explanation, leaving the unpaid nurses in a state of uncertainty.
“These health workers are on the frontlines of care, yet they have not been paid for months. There is no justification for this. The money is available — what is missing is the political will and administrative efficiency,” Dr. Afriyie asserted.
The Minority accused the government of mishandling the payroll and recruitment process, alleging that partisan interests had influenced decisions at the expense of fairness and efficiency.
According to the Minority, the growing frustration among health professionals risks eroding morale, compromising patient care, and threatening the stability of the entire healthcare system.
Dr. Afriyie urged the Ministries of Health and Finance to take immediate action to clear all arrears and restore confidence within the sector.
“The government must act now to avert an avoidable breakdown in health service delivery. The well-being of patients depends on motivated and fairly treated nurses and midwives,” he said.
The Minority also called for transparency in how funds meant for salary payments were disbursed, demanding that the government provide a full accounting to Parliament and the public.
Observers say the issue underscores ongoing challenges in Ghana’s public payroll management system, where bureaucratic delays continue to affect newly recruited workers across key sectors.
