Health Minister confirms salaries for 13,500 nurses
The government has cleared a major hurdle affecting thousands of newly recruited nurses, with all 13,500 health workers now receiving their monthly salaries after months of uncertainty over payroll processing.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh says efforts undertaken by his ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance have successfully addressed the payment challenges that confronted the recruits when the current administration assumed office.
According to the Minister, the situation was among the most pressing issues brought to his attention upon taking charge of the health sector, as thousands of nurses who had already entered service were yet to be fully integrated onto the government payroll.
“When I assumed office, about 13,500 nurses had been recruited but were facing payment challenges. It was a difficult period, but through engagements with the Ministry of Finance, we were able to secure approval for their salaries,” he said.
The delays had generated frustration among affected workers and prompted calls for government intervention, with concerns raised about the welfare of health professionals who had begun work but were not receiving regular remuneration.
Mr Akandoh stated that resolving the payroll challenges became an immediate priority, leading to discussions aimed at securing the necessary financial approvals to ensure the nurses received their salaries.
While confirming that salary payments are now ongoing, the Minister acknowledged that some arrears remain outstanding. He, however, assured affected workers that government has no intention of withholding payments for periods already worked.
“There were rumours that the government would not pay workers for the months they had already worked. That was never the case. If people have worked, they must be paid,” he stressed.
He disclosed that the government expects to complete the payment of all outstanding arrears by July, bringing an end to the issue that has dominated discussions within parts of the health sector in recent months.
Beyond addressing the salary backlog, the Minister also outlined plans to strengthen the country’s healthcare workforce through additional recruitment.
He revealed that government has secured financial clearance to employ 16,000 more health workers this year, although the first phase of the exercise is expected to absorb approximately 8,000 personnel.
The planned recruitment forms part of broader efforts to address staffing needs across health facilities and improve service delivery nationwide.
The latest announcement is likely to come as a relief to affected nurses, many of whom have been awaiting clarity on both their salary status and the timeline for the settlement of arrears accumulated during the payroll delays.
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