The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) says the migration of health workers out of Ghana is due to successive governments failing to improve the conditions of health professionals.
According to the association, over 4,000 nurses have left Ghana for Europe between January and July 2023. Perpetual Ofori Ampofo, speaking to Citi News, stated that nurses and health workers are not respected enough in Ghana.
She said, "The truth is that our salaries in Ghana as nurses and midwives are not the best. However, I also know that it is not just Ghana. Within the sub-region and across Africa as a whole, it is the same issue."
She explained that the movement of nurses from Ghana is affecting many African countries due to poor salaries and working conditions. "They are leaving because the salaries and other conditions of service are not the best," she stated.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) acknowledged in June that it is actively working to address the challenges posed by "brain drain," which is significantly impacting the health sector. Brain drain refers to the loss of professionals who migrate to other regions or industries in search of opportunities.
Over 1,200 Ghanaian nurses reportedly joined the United Kingdom's nursing register last year, and approximately 150 experienced nurses and health professionals from Pantang Hospital have sought opportunities abroad.
At a public health lecture in commemoration of the University of Ghana's 75th anniversary, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the GHS Director General, acknowledged that brain drain is a major challenge.
He said, "We are trying to encourage as many health workers to stay by training more rapidly, recruiting to replace those who leave, and providing more study leave for nurses to upgrade their skills." However, he noted that when developed countries face shortages, they often attract health workers from Ghana and other African nations due to better salaries and conditions.
In summary, health worker migration from Ghana is a serious problem caused by poor remuneration and working conditions that successive governments have failed to adequately improve. This "brain drain" is significantly impacting the country's health sector.
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