Following the recognition of Ghana’s Oncology nurse at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Naomi Oyoe Oti, winner of the Aster Guardian Global Nursing Award 2025, Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has underscored the government’s commitment to supporting the country’s nurses. The minister used the opportunity to announce several new and ongoing initiatives aimed at improving conditions for healthcare workers and enhancing the overall health sector.
He detailed a series of measures designed to address key challenges within the nursing profession, revealing that the government has significantly reduced nursing training school fees, from over GH¢6,000 last year to approximately GH¢3,000 this year, to encourage more students to pursue nursing.
He also confirmed that the payment of nursing training allowances, which had been in arrears, is now on track, with recent payments having been made. The ministry is also in the process of sponsoring at least 15 nursing tutors and is exploring how to help more nurses pursue advanced degree courses.
The Minister acknowledged the issue of unemployed graduate nurses and pledged that the government is looking to employ more of them, with over 7,000 already placed on the payroll. He emphasized a policy shift away from sending qualified nurses home. A new policy is also being rolled out to provide a 20% incentive on basic salary for nurses who accept postings to rural areas, a measure designed to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in underserved communities.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh also addressed the critical issue of professional migration, known as “brain drain.” He stated that a committee, which includes the director of a health institution, is working to train more specialist nurses within the shortest possible time to meet growing demands, clarifying the recent postponement of nursing examinations, explaining that the move to a decentralized system, decided upon with the support of students and institutions, necessitated the delay for proper organization.
Concluding his remarks, the minister stressed the importance of collaboration between the government, unions, and students to build a better health sector. He thanked those who contribute to the positive narrative of Ghana’s health system and announced a personal donation of GH¢50,000 to Naomi Oyoe Oti to help with her expenses.
”I hope this won’t be a one-off award,” he said, expressing a desire for similar recognitions for other healthcare professionals, including medical doctors and pharmacists. The minister concluded by reiterating the government’s commitment to making Ghana a pharmaceutical hub and building a health sector that tells the best stories.
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
