By Prince Ahenkorah
After weeks of mounting tension between the Ministry of Health and unpaid health workers, Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has secured financial clearance to settle outstanding salaries for over 30,000 nurses, midwives, and allied health interns.
The move comes amid growing discontent in the sector, with protests and public criticism threatening to undermine the government’s credibility on labour and welfare issues.
Akandoh, who has been dubbed the “Drama King” by some protesting nurses, confirmed at a press briefing in Accra on 13 October that the Ministry of Finance has approved two key tranches of financial clearance.
The first covers 17,909 health interns who began national service in early 2024, while the second extends the validity of an earlier clearance for 13,500 nurses and midwives recruited later that year.
The extension, originally set to expire in December 2024, is intended to ensure full payment of delayed salaries and allowances. The Minister framed the development as part of a broader effort to stabilise the health sector and rebuild trust with frontline workers.
“The Ministry remains committed to resolving all inherited arrears,” Akandoh said, adding that structural reforms are underway to prevent future delays.
The announcement follows weeks of pressure from health worker unions and civil society groups, who have criticised the government’s handling of public sector wage obligations. While the clearance offers temporary relief, questions remain about the sustainability of the payroll and the Ministry’s capacity to implement long-term reforms.
Akandoh’s appeal for calm and continued service from health workers may buy the government time, but insiders suggest that further unrest is likely if systemic issues such as recruitment bottlenecks, payroll verification delays, and inter-ministerial coordination failures are not addressed.
The episode underscores the fragility of Ghana’s public health infrastructure, where fiscal constraints and bureaucratic inertia continue to undermine service delivery. With elections on the horizon and labour unrest simmering, the government’s ability to manage frontline grievances will be closely watched.