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The Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives staged a protest in Accra on Thursday, demanding the immediate payment of salary arrears owed to thousands of health professionals who have worked without pay for nearly 10 months.
The demonstration, which began at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, will see protesters march to the Ministry of Finance and later the Ministry of Health, where they plan to submit formal petitions calling for urgent government action.
According to the coalition, over 7,000 nurses and midwives recruited through official government channels have not received salaries since taking up their postings in December 2024, despite assurances from the Ministry of Health that their employment had received financial clearance.
“We waited three years — now we work without pay”
Speaking to the media, Stephen Kwadwo Takyiah, Convenor of the coalition, described the situation as both unfair and unsustainable.
“We are not comfortable hitting the streets, but it has become necessary. We are citizens, trained as professional nurses and midwives from nursing training colleges and universities,” he said.
Takyiah recounted the timeline of events:
- Graduated in 2020
- Completed mandatory rotation
- Remained unemployed for three years
- Received postings in October 2024 after financial clearance was secured in July 2024
- Reported to duty in December 2024
“Out of the 15,000 announced by the Ministry, around 13,000 took up postings. But as of now, only about 6,500 have been paid. The rest of us—nearly 7,000—have worked for close to 10 months without salaries,” he lamented.
Impact on morale and healthcare delivery
The coalition warned that the prolonged salary delay is taking a toll on their morale and is beginning to affect healthcare delivery across the country. Many of the unpaid nurses and midwives say they are struggling to meet basic needs, including transportation to work, food, and accommodation.
“This situation is demoralising. We are working under pressure, often in difficult conditions, and yet we cannot afford to survive,” one protester shared.
The group is urging the government to act swiftly to resolve the issue, warning that continued delays could lead to further protests or withdrawal of services in some facilities.
As of now, the Ministries of Finance and Health have not issued an official response to Thursday’s protest.
