Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister for Health, has revealed he has secured financial clearance for the payment of some 17,909 nurses, midwives, and allied health interns who started their national service in early 2024.
Speaking to the media in Accra on Monday, October 13, Mr Akandoh detailed, “Financial clearance secured for payment of the 17,909 nurses, midwives, and allied health interns who started their national service in early 2024. Financial clearance secured for 13,500 recruited and posted late last year [2024], with their financial clearance expiring by 31st December 2024”.
“The Ministry is putting in place measures as part of a broader agenda to strengthen Ghana’s health system and ensure the welfare of its workforce,” he stated.
The Health Minister further announced that the government will start paying all nurses and midwives owed salary arrears from November.
According to him, the Cabinet has approved that the finance minister immediately pay 13,500 nurses and midwives starting from November.
Mintah Akandoh added, “As I speak to you now, about 6,500, that will add up to the 7,000 already being paid, making 13,500; that’s a lot, that’s over 6,000. The Cabinet has approved that with immediate effect. Starting from November, the Minister for Finance must pay them. And I have in my hand the letter to that effect”
“And so these were the difficulties. I empathise with anybody who has had to go through this painful situation. And it is important for Ghanaians to be taken care of,” he added.
In related news, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Health Minister, has urged the Ghana Health Service to temper justice with mercy in addressing a query issued to staff nurse Bernice Aboagye over alleged unprofessional comments.
Bernice Aboagye received a queired letter from Dr Samuel Freeman Mensah, Medical Superintendent at the Ghana Health Service, on October 10, 2025.
The GHS in its query to the nurse demanded that she respond by October 24, 2025 explain her actions.
“Use of unacceptable and inappropriate words resulting in a rude behaviour towards the Honourable Minister for Health, contrary to Section 8.1(c) of the code of conduct and disciplinary procedures.
Use of abusive language on the Honourable Minister of Health is contrary to Section 8, 1 (1) of the Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures.
Tarnishing the corporate image of the Service and bringing the name of the service into disrepute, contrary to Section 4.1 (d) of the Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures”.
However, in a statement signed by Tony Goodman, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, detailed that the Minister has requested that the nurse be pardoned.
In the statement, Tony Goodman wrote, “The Ministry of Health has taken notice of a query letter issued to MS. Bernice Aboagye, a Staff Nurse, which has been circulating on social media regarding certain unprofessional comments allegedly made against the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
The Minister commends the Ghana Health Service for promptly upholding the tenets of professionalism and the Code of Conduct prescribed for health workers
However, Hon. Akandoh has appealed to the Service to temper justice with mercy in addressing the matter. According to him, both he and the government welcome divergent views and constructive criticism as part of his commitment to fostering tolerance and openness to diverse opinions”.
The statement further urged, “all health workers to express their opinions responsibly and respectfully, without resorting to insults, as this contributes to the healthy growth and development of the health sector.
The Ministry wishes to emphasise that it has no objection to demonstrations, as they are legitimate expressions of frustration and a constitutional right of every citizen. However, the Ministry will not condone the use of abusive language or acts of indiscipline during such demonstrations.”