The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has revealed that the Ministry of Health has been granted a GH¢22.8 billion budget for the 2026 financial year to enhance healthcare delivery nationwide.
He explained that the funds will be directed toward upgrading health infrastructure, expanding services under the Free Primary Healthcare initiative, boosting resources for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and hiring more medical professionals.
The allocation, he added, also prioritises improved remuneration, allowances, and welfare packages for healthcare staff.
Mr Akandoh stressed that government remains committed to ongoing engagement with nurses and midwives to improve their working conditions, raise morale, and address the increasing challenge of brain drain in the sector.
According to him, “continuous dialogue with health workers was critical to strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system and ensuring quality service delivery nationwide.”
The Minister’s remarks were delivered in a speech read on his behalf at the 6th Annual National Dinner and Awards Night of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) held in Accra on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
He lauded nurses and midwives for their vital role in building a resilient health system, describing them as “the backbone of the nation’s health delivery framework.”
Mr Akandoh further disclosed that the Ministry had recruited 13,500 nurses and midwives to reinforce the health workforce, particularly at the frontline. He assured that all newly engaged staff facing salary delays would receive payment by year-end.
He noted that the recruitment formed part of a broader plan to strengthen frontline healthcare under the Free Primary Healthcare and Mahama Cares programmes.
The Minister also congratulated awardees at the ceremony, commending their sacrifices, compassion, and dedication to improving health outcomes across the country.
Meanwhile, the Okyenhene and King of the Akyem Abuakwa Kingdom, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, praised nurses and midwives for their steadfast commitment to duty and urged them to remain pillars of Ghana’s healthcare progress.
“The value of your profession cannot be measured by the number of hours you work, but by the dignity, comfort, and hope you offer patients,” he said.
He further appealed to government to invest in modern health facilities to make Ghana a hub for healthcare opportunities, stressing that quality infrastructure must be matched with devoted and compassionate professionals.
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, announced plans to introduce nationwide training in emergency care and basic life support for health workers. He also encouraged professionals to improve customer service in health facilities to reduce complaints and strengthen public trust in the system.
GRNMA President, Dr Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, explained that the awards, instituted in 2020, aim to celebrate the exceptional contributions of nurses and midwives, especially those serving in rural and underserved areas. She described them as “the backbone of the health system whose dedication continues to save lives and inspire hope.”
At the event, Beatrice Sewor, Senior Nursing Officer at St Joseph Catholic Hospital in Nkwanta, Volta Region, was named National Best Nurse/Midwife for 2025 in recognition of her professionalism and commitment to quality care in a challenging rural environment.
Nana Gladys Kusi-Yeboah received the President’s Award for her role in advancing maternal health policy, while several other nurses and midwives were honoured for their service to the health sector.
SOURCE: GNA
Leave a Reply