Thousands of nurses and midwives under the Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives took to the streets of Accra on Thursday, October 2, 2025, demanding immediate payment of salary arrears that have piled up for nearly a year.
The group, led by convenor Stephen Kwadwo Takyiah, marched from the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health, presenting petitions to both institutions. They accused government of dragging its feet on the matter despite repeated assurances, describing the continued delays as “unfair and unsustainable.”
“Many of us have gone nine to ten months without salaries. This is demoralising and undermining healthcare delivery nationwide,” Mr. Takyiah said, adding that some affected health workers were struggling to feed their families and keep up with basic expenses.
The protest drew wide public sympathy, with onlookers expressing concern that the situation could force nurses to abandon their posts at a time when the country’s health system remains under strain.
Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, who received the petition, acknowledged the grievances and apologised for the hardship. He assured the protesters that the arrears would be captured in the government’s November budget presentation, stressing that the matter was receiving “serious consideration.”
But the nurses insist they cannot wait indefinitely. “We need urgent solutions, not more promises. Healthcare workers cannot continue working under such financial stress,” the coalition stressed in its petition.
With 7,000 health workers affected, pressure is mounting on government to act swiftly, as stakeholders warn that prolonged inaction risks further weakening Ghana’s healthcare delivery system.
