Health Minister Grants Newly Posted Doctors One-Week Extension Amid Widespread Failure to Report
The Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced a one-week extension for newly posted medical doctors to report to their assigned duty stations across the country. This decision follows an unexpected and alarming level of non-compliance, with the majority of the newly assigned doctors failing to appear at their respective facilities.
Initial assessments from the Ministry showed that approximately 70 percent of the doctors who received postings did not report within the stipulated timeframe. The problem is particularly severe in the northern parts of the country, where the Upper West and Upper East Regions have recorded no arrivals at all among the newly posted medical personnel. In the Upper West Region specifically, only seven out of the thirty-two doctors posted have reported, raising serious concerns about the region’s ability to provide essential healthcare services to its population of nearly one million residents.
Addressing the media in Accra, the Health Minister expressed deep concern about the situation but reaffirmed that the posting directives remain unchanged. He explained that the one-week extension is intended as a final grace period for the doctors to comply. After the deadline, the Ministry will begin a thorough validation process to determine which doctors have honoured their postings and which have not.
To address some of the underlying challenges that may have contributed to the low turnout, the Ministry is working directly with regional and district authorities. This includes collaboration with regional ministers, Members of Parliament, District Chief Executives, and traditional leaders to ensure that the doctors receive the necessary support upon arrival. Accommodation, which has long been a major concern for newly posted healthcare workers in remote areas, is being prioritized through these stakeholder engagements.
The government is also evaluating a range of incentive measures aimed at making postings to underserved communities more attractive. For years, health sector stakeholders particularly the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), have highlighted that the lack of incentives and inadequate living conditions in deprived areas discourage many young doctors from accepting rural postings. Although an incentive policy for deprived districts already exists on paper, its implementation has been inconsistent, leaving many newly posted medical professionals without the support they need to settle and work effectively.
Beyond accommodation deficits, the GMA has pointed out additional challenges such as limited medical infrastructure, unreliable internet connectivity, insufficient diagnostic tools, and the absence of opportunities for supplementary income that many doctors rely on when working in larger cities. These factors collectively contribute to the reluctance among new doctors to accept rural assignments, despite the critical need for medical personnel in those regions.
The Health Minister acknowledged the validity of these concerns and emphasized the necessity of a more balanced distribution of medical professionals across the country. Currently, nearly half of Ghana’s doctors are concentrated in the Greater Accra Region, leaving many districts especially in the northern and rural zones severely understaffed. He stressed that addressing this imbalance is essential if Ghana is to achieve equitable healthcare access for all citizens.
In response to the poor reporting turnout, regional health directors have begun contacting the doctors individually through phone calls and electronic messages to remind them of their obligations and encourage immediate compliance. These outreach efforts are being supported by ongoing engagements with local leaders to ensure that the doctors will have adequate resources and living arrangements upon arrival.
Despite the disappointing turnout, the Minister maintained an optimistic outlook, describing the newly posted doctors as dedicated professionals and encouraging them to embrace the national call to service. He reiterated that the government remains committed to creating better conditions in rural health facilities and that long-term reforms including revitalizing incentive schemes are being actively considered.
The situation highlights a broader systemic challenge within Ghana’s healthcare delivery framework. While posting directives help distribute human resources on paper, genuine progress requires addressing the structural barriers that make rural service unattractive. Without decisive action, regions already struggling with limited healthcare personnel will continue to face dire shortages.
As the extended deadline approaches, attention now turns to whether the newly posted doctors will respond to the ultimatum. The Ministry has indicated that additional measures may be taken if the reporting numbers do not improve, underscoring the seriousness of the situation and the critical need to strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide.
