Ghana Ministry of Health Recruits Over 7,200 Health Professionals
Ghana's Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced the successful recruitment of more than 7,200 health professionals. These new hires are expected to start their roles on July 1, 2026. The recruitment covers many types of health workers. Hiring medical doctors will happen after this current exercise finishes. This effort is a key part of the government's plan. It aims to make the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) policy stronger. It also seeks to improve how healthcare is delivered across the nation. Special focus is given to areas that lack sufficient medical services.
The Ministry received approval in April 2026 to hire around 8,000 health workers. This comes even though more than 105,000 health workers are still looking for jobs. The number of positions given to each health profession and location was decided carefully. This was based on staffing rules, yearly needs from agencies, and the goals of the FPHC policy. Groups like the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) helped guide these decisions. Districts with big staff shortages and many health problems received more job openings. Some areas in Greater Accra, like Ada West, Ada East, and Ningo-Prampram, were prioritized.
A new online portal was used for this recruitment. Over 53,000 records of health professionals were uploaded to this platform. This system was designed to be very open and help with hiring at the local level. The portal recorded 30,226 allied health professionals and 16,860 nurses and midwives. It also listed 4,631 physician assistants and 2,975 pharmacists. Pharmacy technicians numbered 1,778. Five foreign-trained Certified Registered Anaesthetists also submitted their details. Although 29,893 accounts were started, 2,636 applicants did not finish their profiles.
Registered General Nurses made up the largest group of applicants nationwide. There were 4,158 applications from this category. Nurse Assistant Preventives and Registered Public Health Nurses were given high priority. This is because they are very important for preventing diseases and providing community health care. The Greater Accra and Eastern regions saw 217 applications in the first five minutes the portal opened. The Ashanti and Bono regions received 153 applications in the same time. The West Mamprusi District in the Northern Region had the most successful applications, with over 90 people finding jobs.
Looking at the numbers, 6,245 nurses and midwives were hired out of 6,500 available spots. For allied health professionals, 771 were recruited from 900 positions. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians filled 235 jobs out of 250 slots. All positions for physician assistants were filled. However, 87 vacancies remain open. These are mainly for Registered Public Health Nurses, Mental Health Nurses, and five anaesthetists in northern areas. The Ministry is working with the GHS and CHAG to move these slots to other roles. This will ensure the jobs go to the districts that needed them originally.
The recruitment portal will reopen soon for a second chance to fill the remaining jobs. This will help meet staffing needs in teaching hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and other special facilities. The Ministry is also looking into claims of fraud and illegal money collection during hiring. They have worked with security agencies, and investigations are underway. Health workers are warned against dealing with people who might scam them. Professional groups are asked to keep educating their members. The next steps will involve interviews and checking documents. The Ministry of Finance is expected to release more money by the end of the year. This will allow for hiring even more health workers. Plans are also in place to hire medical officers for rural and needy areas. Over 6,000 volunteers, especially Nurse Assistant Preventives, will be engaged with stipends to support the FPHC policy. The Ministry remains committed to creating jobs and ensuring health workers are spread out fairly. This supports the goal of Universal Health Coverage and global development targets.