The Minority in Parliament has issued a strong call on the government to immediately pay all outstanding salaries owed to nurses and midwives, citing worsening morale and growing discontent among frontline health workers.

Addressing the media in Parliament, the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Dr. Ayew Afriyie, criticised the government’s handling of the recruitment and payment process for newly engaged health personnel, describing it as inefficient and politically motivated.

According to Dr. Afriyie, although the Ministry of Finance granted financial clearance on July 17, 2024, for the recruitment of 15,200 nurses and midwives, only about 7,000 to 8,000 have so far been recruited and paid.

He noted that the remaining thousands continue to work without pay, despite funds having already been released for their salaries.

He added that the financial clearance expired on December 31, 2024, yet no extension or effective communication has been made by the government or the Ghana Health Service, leaving the affected workers stranded.

“There is no justifiable reason for this delay. The money has been disbursed, and these nurses and midwives are already rendering essential services.

Their welfare should not be jeopardised by administrative lapses or political indecision,” Dr. Afriyie stated.

The Minority accused the government of mishandling the payroll process and warned that continued delays risk sparking industrial unrest among health professionals.

He emphasised that such inaction undermines public trust and threatens the stability of Ghana’s health system.

Dr. Afriyie urged the government to act swiftly to restore confidence and morale within the sector by ensuring that all affected nurses and midwives receive their salaries and arrears without further delay.

The Minority concluded by calling on the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance to demonstrate transparency and accountability in resolving the issue, noting that the well-being of patients and the efficiency of healthcare delivery depend on the motivation and fair treatment of health workers.