The public has been reassured by Health Minister Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh that the government is making every effort to alleviate the backlog of more than 70,000 jobless medical professionals nationwide.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Friday, July 18, Mr. Akandoh highlighted the administration's commitment to finding a solution while acknowledging the magnitude of the health sector's unemployment problem.
"I want to reassure you that we are working tirelessly to clear this backlog, even though we acknowledge the challenge of over 70,000 qualified health workers currently awaiting employment," he added.
Over 10,000 nurses and midwives have been hired in the last six months, and additional hiring is anticipated in the months to come, the minister said.
In response to queries from pharmacists who are still awaiting placement, he said that 321 House Officer pharmacists who finished training in 2024 are having their wage arrears handled.
"We are prioritising their recruitment as part of strengthening our health workforce, even though 1,621 qualified chemists are still waiting for permanent employment," he said.
According to Mr. Akandoh, the government's approach did not only target chemists and nurses. In order to ensure that every qualified professional gets the opportunity to serve and improve Ghana's health system, he said, "this is just one example of our broader commitment to clearing the backlog across all health worker cadres."
Speaking on advancements in health finance, the Minister said that by the end of 2024, the government had paid GH¢603 million in arrears to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
"The government's unwavering commitment to timely payment and meeting our obligations in healthcare financing is demonstrated by this milestone," Mr. Akandoh said.
He added, "Let me put on record that in the history of the NHIA, no government has paid or released money from the consolidated funds to the National Health Insurance Fund more promptly than this government." He claimed that the current administration had performed better than previous ones in terms of releasing funds to the NHIS. Every month, we carry it out.
Mr. Akandoh brought attention to significant increases in NHIS enrolment in addition to settling arrears. He pointed out that more than 670,000 additional members joined the program between 2024 and mid-2025, bringing the overall number of enrolled individuals to 15.67 million.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the number of Ghanaians registered in the NHIS has increased by almost 670,000 from the previous year to 15.67 million today. This implies that 670,000 additional Ghanaians are now covered by health insurance, he said.
Improved finance methods, consistent claims payments, and structural changes that have enhanced service delivery across the hospital system are all responsible for the rise, he said.
The minister said, "The NHIA disbursed over GH¢1.38 billion to providers in the first half of 2025 alone, reflecting a system that is stronger, more responsive, and more reliable than ever before."
Mr. Akandoh reiterated the government's commitment to guaranteeing that everyone has access to high-quality healthcare and preserving the NHIS's financial stability.
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