Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has raised serious concerns over Ghana’s growing backlog of unemployed health professionals, warning that the number could reach 180,000 by the end of 2028 if urgent measures are not taken.
Mr. Akandoh revealed that the country currently has about 74,000 trained health professionals without employment.
However, with thousands graduating from health institutions each year, the figure is projected to more than double in just three years.
“By the end of 2026, we’re expecting an additional 23,000. In 2027, about 35,000 more. And by the end of 2028, roughly 47,000. If we don’t take action, this will bring the total number of unemployed health professionals to not less than 180,000,” he cautioned.
The Minister acknowledged the urgency of the situation and outlined government strategies aimed at tackling the issue. These include gradual domestic recruitment and exploring international employment opportunities for health workers.
“There is a strategy going forward. The government will gradually recruit some of them over time,” he said.
Mr. Akandoh also disclosed that Ghana is in talks with 13 countries under a “managed migration” initiative, which aims to export qualified health professionals to nations facing shortages. However, he noted that many of the countries expressing interest require specialists rather than general practitioners.
“We are looking at how to export some of them through managed migration. But the challenge is that most of these countries want specialists,” he explained.
To fully absorb the existing backlog, the Minister estimated that the government would need at least GHS 6 billion annually — a significant fiscal demand amid current economic constraints.
The comments come amid growing pressure from unemployed nurses, midwives, and other health professionals demanding placement, as well as mounting criticism from the Minority in Parliament over the government’s handling of health sector employment.
