The Health Minister-designate, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has outlined plans to tackle unemployment among health professionals by facilitating their migration to countries in need of skilled medical personnel. Speaking during his vetting before the Appointments Committee on Friday, January 31, Akandoh acknowledged the growing unemployment rate in Ghana’s health sector and stressed the need for international partnerships to create job opportunities abroad.
“The unemployment situation among health professionals is alarming. The challenge largely stems from constraints on the wage bill. Therefore, we need to establish links with other countries to facilitate the migration of these professionals and create employment opportunities for them,” he stated. The migration of Ghanaian health workers, particularly nurses, has increased in recent years as professionals seek better remuneration and working conditions abroad.
While some stakeholders view this as a viable solution to unemployment, concerns remain about its impact on Ghana’s healthcare system. There are fears, the large-scale migration could worsen the shortage of medical personnel in the country, affecting service delivery in public health facilities. Critics also argue that the government should prioritise expanding domestic healthcare infrastructure and increasing budgetary allocations to absorb more professionals locally rather than relying on external job placements.
By: Kabah Atawoge
