Unemployed nurses and midwives plan demonstration over delayed postings

A group of unemployed graduate nurses and midwives in Ghana has announced plans to stage a nationwide demonstration in protest against delayed postings and financial clearances. The group says the prolonged wait has left many qualified health professionals idle even after completing training and licensing requirements.

According to the leadership of the association, the affected professionals come from the 2020, 2021 and 2022 graduating batches from public universities and nursing training colleges. They claim that despite repeated assurances from health authorities about posting and deployment, no concrete action has followed for many of them.

The protesters voiced their frustration, pointing out that some nurses believe financial clearance and postings have been privatized. They suspect that postings are being given to applicants who can afford to pay between GH¢ 5,000 and GH¢ 10,000 to certain intermediaries. The association’s president alleged that while some people have received postings, many deserving professionals have remained unemployed.

The association warns that unless their demands are addressed, they will picket key government offices, including the Ministries of Health and Finance, to press for immediate action. They insist that postings and employment must be based on merit and not payment.

The delay in postings and employment for trained health workers has serious implications for Ghana’s health sector. With a shortage of skilled nurses and midwives, especially in rural and underserved regions, patients may face inadequate care, longer wait times, and overburdened facilities. Analysts stress that government inaction undermines efforts to strengthen health coverage and meet public health demands.

Calls are mounting from civil society and health advocacy groups for transparency in the posting process. Observers urge authorities to clear the backlog for unemployed health workers, ensure postings are fairly distributed, and guarantee that no qualified nurse or midwife remains idle while the country suffers shortages.

For now, many unemployed health professionals and their families await government response. The planned demonstration is intended as a last resort, a public appeal for attention, respect, and the fulfilment of promises made to Ghana’s health workforce.