Ministry of Health recruits over 6,200 nurses and midwives under primary healthcare drive
The Ministry of Health has announced the successful recruitment of 6,245 nurses and midwives out of 6,500 available positions under a nationwide exercise aimed at strengthening primary healthcare delivery, especially in underserved communities.
The recruitment forms part of the government’s broader free primary healthcare initiative, designed to deploy trained professionals to areas facing critical staffing shortages and improve access to essential health services.
According to the Ministry, the Ministry of Finance granted financial clearance for the recruitment of about 8,000 health professionals despite a backlog of nearly 105,000 qualified but unemployed health workers across the country.
The exercise also led to the recruitment of:
771 out of 900 allied health professionals
235 out of 250 pharmacy professionals
300 physician assistants
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Health, Frederick Mensah-Acheampong, said the process remained highly competitive because of the large number of qualified applicants.
He disclosed that about 87 nursing vacancies in some Northern districts remain unfilled and would likely be addressed through a planned mop-up exercise in the coming weeks.
“We have received financial clearance to recruit about 8,000 health professionals from the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry acknowledges the anxiety and interest these recruitment exercises have generated, particularly given the backlog of about 105,000 unemployed health professionals,” he stated.
Mr. Mensah-Acheampong explained that the recruitment process aligns with the government’s Primary Healthcare policy, which prioritises preventive care, community-based services, and improved healthcare delivery in underserved areas.
