Health Ministry Promises Payment of Salary Arrears to Junior Doctors, Nurses

The Ministry of Health has assured the Junior Doctors’ Association of Ghana (JDA-GH) and protesting nurses and midwives that steps are underway to address the delays in the payment of their salary arrears.

This comes after the JDA-GH announced a nationwide withdrawal of services starting Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in protest over months of unpaid salaries, stalled postings, and what they describe as persistent unfair treatment.

The announcement also follows a demonstration by a coalition of unpaid nurses and midwives on Thursday, October 2, demanding the settlement of salary arrears. The group revealed that more than 7,000 nurses and midwives have worked for nine to 10 months without pay despite being officially recruited.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, October 3, the Ministry’s spokesperson, Tony Goodman, attributed the delays to rushed recruitments, particularly under the previous administration, which saw some health workers placed on payroll without the required financial clearance.

“We had about 1,000 pharmacists who had completed their service but had not received their salaries, but they have now been paid. Some medical officers were also caught up in the same web, and they too have been paid. Currently, we have officers doing their house job asking for their salaries. With the doctors, it was a mix-up that has already been cleared and will be addressed,” he explained.

He further noted that Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, together with the Ministry of Finance, is working to clear all outstanding arrears.

Goodman stressed that the rush to post health workers after years of waiting contributed to the payroll challenges. “Everybody who was not part of the financial clearance was caught up in this. As of yesterday, we have dealt with it. We now know those who have been paid and those who are yet to be paid,” he added.

He assured affected health workers that the Ministry is committed to resolving the issue, with new financial clearances being processed to regularise their salaries.

“There are a lot of legacy challenges we inherited but I assure you, you are going to receive your salaries” – Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Ampem Nyarko assures Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives demanding their 10 months salary arrears. #JoyNews #JoyDigital pic.twitter.com/vg9ksiPfBK

— Joy 99.7 FM (@Joy997FM) October 2, 2025

Source: Citinews