Minority Urges Government to Pay Unpaid Nurses and Midwives, Citing Neglect and Delays

Minority Raises Alarm Over Unpaid Nurses and Midwives

The Minority in Parliament has accused the government of administrative negligence following months of unpaid salaries for thousands of newly recruited nurses and midwives across Ghana.

Addressing journalists in Parliament on Tuesday, the Ranking Member of the Health Committee, Dr. Ayew Afriyie, said about 7,000 health professionals employed by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in December 2024 have not received their salaries nearly ten months after assuming duty.

The group described the situation as “unacceptable,” arguing that these nurses and midwives were recruited under an official financial clearance issued by the Ministry of Finance, the same directive that covered their counterparts in teaching hospitals and facilities under the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), who have already been paid.

According to the Minority’s statement, approximately 13,000 nurses and midwives were recruited nationwide under the same budgetary provision. However, the GHS-employed batch has been left without pay, while others in similar institutions began receiving salaries as early as July 2024.

“It is unfair for thousands of nurses and midwives to work for ten months without pay due to administrative delays,” the statement noted, urging the Ministry of Health to hold the GHS accountable rather than penalizing the affected staff.

The Caucus also questioned why the financial clearance which expired on December 31, 2024 had not been extended, emphasizing that such extensions are standard procedure within Ghana’s public service.

The Minority explained that the Ministry of Finance’s clearance authorized the recruitment of the affected nurses and midwives before expiring at the end of 2024. They argued that extending such clearance should have been routine, citing past examples within the same administration.

“There is no legal or administrative barrier to renewing a valid financial clearance,” the statement stressed, accusing the government of failing to act promptly despite the availability of precedent.

The Caucus further dismissed the Health Minister’s claim that Cabinet approval was required for the extension, describing it as “misleading” and an attempt to deflect responsibility.

The Minority contended that the delay reflects a broader pattern of political indifference toward frontline health workers.

“Instead of addressing its own failings, the government is portraying its late attempt to seek Cabinet approval as an act of goodwill,” the group said.

They alleged that the situation may be politically motivated, suggesting the government deliberately chose not to prioritize the welfare of nurses and midwives a move they believe undermines morale within the health sector.

The Minority Caucus has called on the government to:

1. Extend the expired financial clearance to cover the affected workers.
2. Regularize the employment and payments, including arrears owed to the nurses and midwives.
3. Institute administrative reforms to prevent similar lapses in the future.

The group reaffirmed its support for the affected health professionals, noting that it had previously urged nurses to suspend planned industrial action earlier this year in the interest of national stability.

“We have always acted responsibly, guided by the belief that healthcare delivery must rise above political divisions,” the statement emphasized.

Ghana’s healthcare system continues to face workforce challenges, including the delayed absorption and remuneration of trained professionals. These recurring delays risk discouraging new entrants into the sector and could weaken service delivery in underserved regions.

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has in the past expressed similar concerns, warning that salary delays and unfulfilled postings contribute to migration of trained nurses to countries like the UK and Canada, where working conditions and compensation are more reliable.

The outcome of this dispute will test the government’s commitment to improving working conditions in Ghana’s public health sector. Prompt action could restore confidence among healthcare workers and ensure continuity of essential services.

For now, the affected nurses and midwives continue to work unpaid, hoping for resolution before the end of the year.

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