Ghana Hosts National Dialogue to Tackle Health Workforce Crisis
Ghana’s Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health
Organization, has launched a two-day National Policy Dialogue focused on
finding long-term solutions to the country’s health workforce challenges. The
event, which began on April 9, 2025, in Accra, gathered policymakers,
healthcare professionals, international partners, and key stakeholders to
discuss pressing issues affecting the healthcare system.
Themed “Transforming Ghana’s Health Workforce for UHC: Align, Invest, and
Sustain,” the dialogue focused on aligning policies, investing in human
capital, and ensuring sustainable strategies to meet the growing health demands
of the population. The discussions addressed critical issues such as
unemployment among trained health professionals, poor distribution of
healthcare workers, skills gaps, and the increasing trend of migration by
health workers seeking better opportunities abroad.
Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, in his address, called for
renewed commitment and fresh thinking to revamp the sector. He stressed the
need for innovative approaches that not only address current challenges but
also position Ghana’s healthcare system for future success. The Minister
described the situation not as a deadlock but as a chance to reimagine health
workforce strategies that are driven by evidence and grounded in equity and
sustainability.
Akandoh cited data from a recent Health Labour Market Analysis which
provided a mixed review of Ghana’s health workforce landscape. From 2013 to
2022, the density of public sector health workers rose from 16.56 to 41.92 per
10,000 people. Despite this notable progress, the Minister noted that nearly 40
percent of trained health professionals remain without jobs. This discrepancy,
he explained, highlights a significant disconnect between training and job
placement.
Another major concern raised at the dialogue was the poor distribution of
health workers, especially in rural communities. Currently, only 38 percent of
healthcare workers serve in rural areas, even though more than 40 percent of
the country’s population lives there. This imbalance continues to create access
challenges for people living in underserved communities.
The Minister emphasized the need to bridge this gap through targeted
deployment strategies and improved incentive packages to attract health workers
to rural areas. He acknowledged that while challenges persist, they can be
turned into opportunities with coordinated efforts from all stakeholders.
A worrying trend discussed was the significant rise in health worker
migration. Between 2020 and 2022, there was a 232 percent increase in the number
of nurses applying for verification to work abroad. More than 5,000 nurses
completed this process in the first half of 2023 alone. This trend, according
to the Minister, is largely driven by economic considerations.
He explained that the average monthly salary for a health worker in Ghana is
GH₵2,813, while most of them view GH₵3,000 as the minimum acceptable wage. In
contrast, the average salary abroad can exceed GH₵10,000, making foreign job
opportunities significantly more attractive. This wage gap continues to fuel
the departure of skilled professionals, weakening the country’s healthcare
system.
Despite the economic pressure, Akandoh noted that the public sector in Ghana
remains relatively competitive, especially for doctors. Public sector medical doctors
earn approximately 47 percent more than their counterparts in the private
sector, making public service a more attractive option for many professionals.
Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Hafiz Adam, added that with
support from development partners, Ghana has made significant progress in
expanding its health workforce over the past two decades. However, he stressed
the need for greater investment in job creation, quality education, and the
retention of skilled personnel. He called on stakeholders to commit to
strategies that will address both the short-term and long-term needs of the
sector.
The event also featured a panel discussion made up of high-level experts and
decision-makers from both public and private health institutions, development
agencies, and professional associations. They explored ways to improve
inter-agency coordination, strengthen health sector regulations, and secure
reliable financing to support human resources for health. Participants agreed
that a unified approach is necessary to ensure that all Ghanaians can access
quality healthcare, regardless of their location.
The National Dialogue is expected to produce actionable policy
recommendations that will guide the government and its partners in reforming
the country’s health workforce systems.
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