Health Minister raises alarm over Ghana’s health workforce crisis

Ghana’s Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has painted a sobering picture of the country’s health workforce crisis, warning that despite major strides in training health professionals, the nation faces a “complex labour market crisis” that could derail efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Speaking at the opening of the National Human Resources for Health Workforce Policy Dialogue at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, the Minister revealed startling figures from a recent Health Labour Market Analysis conducted with support from the World Health Organization and other partners.

According to the analysis, Ghana has made commendable progress over the past decade, with the public health workforce nearly tripling in density — from 16.56 to 41.92 health workers per 10,000 population between 2013 and 2022.

When unemployed professionals are included, the figure rises to 82.75 per 10,000 — surpassing the global benchmark of 22.8.

However, Akandoh said the country’s challenge has shifted from training to deployment, motivation, and retention.

“Nearly 40% of our trained health workforce — an estimated 118,000 professionals — are currently unemployed,” the Minister disclosed. “Only 38% of health workers serve in rural areas, where over 40% of our population resides.”

Migration remains another key concern. Between 2020 and 2022, the number of nurses seeking to migrate increased by a staggering 232%, with over 5,000 nurses initiating migration processes in the first half of 2023 alone.

The primary driver, the Minister said, is economic. While the average health worker in Ghana earns GH₵2,813, most consider GH₵3,000 to be the minimum acceptable wage.

Meanwhile, health professionals abroad earn close to GH₵10,000 — more than triple the local average.

“Two out of every three health workers are considering leaving the country,” Akandoh warned.

“We are losing our best-trained professionals to countries that can offer better remuneration.”

Despite these challenges, the Minister noted that the public sector remains more attractive than the private sector, with doctors earning up to 47% more in public institutions — a testament to government investment.

Yet, the gap between demand and available resources remains wide. Ghana will need over 367,000 health workers to meet its UHC goals by 2030 — potentially rising to half a million.

But current budget projections allow for only 147,000 health workers by that year. The estimated cost of bridging the gap is USD 9.8 billion.

Calling for urgent and coordinated action, Akandoh stressed the need to rethink Ghana’s health workforce strategy and explore innovative, evidence-based solutions.

“This Policy Dialogue is not just another meeting — it is a call to action,” he said. “The future of Ghana’s health system depends on the choices we make today.”

The two-day dialogue brings together ministers, parliamentarians, development partners, academia, organized labour, and key stakeholders in the health sector to chart a sustainable path forward for Ghana’s health workforce.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith