Frontline nurses and midwives who say they have gone unpaid for nearly a year are warning of growing frustration within Ghana’s public health system, after receiving only one month’s salary for twelve months of continuous work.
The affected workers, organised under a coalition affiliated with the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), say the situation has left them financially distressed and emotionally exhausted, despite their role in sustaining healthcare delivery across public facilities.
According to the group, members worked day and night, responded to medical emergencies and provided essential care that “kept Ghana’s health system alive,” yet their efforts were met with what they describe as neglect and broken promises from the Ministry of Health.
Coalition leader Stephen Takyiah said the single-month payment is grossly inadequate and fails to reflect the sacrifices made by frontline health workers.
“Our morale is being killed,” the group stated, warning that continued neglect could ultimately affect patient care nationwide.
The coalition disclosed that the problem goes beyond delayed payments. About 300 nurses and midwives, it said, did not receive even the one month’s salary paid to others, and their employment status remains unclear.
This uncertainty is compounded by the looming expiration of their extended financial clearance on December 31, 2025, raising fears that the situation could worsen if urgent action is not taken.
Adding to their frustration, the group pointed to what it described as selective payment practices within the health sector. According to the coalition, more than 7,000 nurses and midwives who began receiving salaries in April 2025 have since had all their arrears settled in full, while another 6,261 remain unpaid.
“Some of us were validated to receive full arrears in November, but surprisingly, we were paid just a single month’s salary,” the statement said, describing the development as deceptive and heartbreaking.
The nurses and midwives further accused the Ministry of Health of failing to honour a commitment to publish a clear payment roadmap following the November salary disbursement.
Weeks later, they say, there has been no communication, no timelines and no engagement, even as a press release issued by the Ministry claimed all affected workers had been paid.
Describing the situation as unfair and inhumane, the coalition warned that prolonged financial hardship among healthcare workers could have serious consequences for the health sector.
The group has therefore called on the government—particularly the Ministries of Health and Finance—to immediately engage them, correct what it calls misinformation, and ensure the full payment of all outstanding salary arrears.
“We demand fairness, transparency, and respect for our labour and dignity,” the statement said. “We have served Ghana faithfully. It is time for Ghana to do the same for us.”
