Recruitment for nurses and midwives begins today, Monday, 5 August 2024, to fill positions for 15,200 individuals who completed their studies between 2020 and 2022.This move follows a financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance, as indicated in a letter to the Ministry of Health (MoH) dated July 26, 2024.According to the letter obtained by Trust FM, which states, “Recruitment will commence on Monday, August 5, 2024,” and qualified applicants are encouraged to apply through the Ministry of Health’s application portal at https://hr.moh.gov.gh.The application deadline is Friday, August 23, 2024.However, the Head of the Public Relations Unit at the Ministry of Health, Mr Isaac Ofei-Baah, has dismissed the Nurses and Midwives Council’s (NMC) assertion that a backlog of 65,000 unemployed nurses is awaiting posting
as unrealistic.
During an interview on Trust FM’s “AgooGhana” Morning Show, Ofei-Baah addressed the recent approval by the
Ministry of Finance to recruit 15,000 nurses and midwives into healthfacilities nationwide.
Ofei-Baah explained that, contrary to the NMC’s figures, the MoH has already recruited 14,300 nurses from the 2020-2022 cohort, with an additional 7,000 and 2,500 nurses recruited subsequently.
He noted that around 80 per cent of the 2020 graduates are already employed. The current recruitment clearance for 15,200 nurses is part of a larger group of 24,000 from the 2022 batch who have completed their rotation and are awaiting employment.
Assuming all conditions are met, 26,000 nurses will be available for employment once the ministry completes the latest clearance process.
Meanwhile, Ofei-Baah highlighted the high quality of Ghanaian nurses, noting that they are among the best globally, second only to Kenya.
He pointed out that Ghanaian nurses contribute significantly to the national economy as foreign exchange earners.
He further explained that sending medical officers abroad not only exposes them to new technologies and experiences but also saves the country considerable costs, citing that if all these nurses were working in Ghana, their salaries would place a substantial financial strain on the national budget.
