The Ministry of Health has defended its ongoing recruitment of health professionals, insisting that allocations were fairly distributed based on staffing shortages and healthcare needs across the country.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Monday, May 18, Director of Human Resource for Health Development at the Ministry, Frederick Mensah Acheampong, explained that the recruitment process was guided by the government’s Free Primary Healthcare policy, with priority given to underserved districts and preventive healthcare delivery.
According to him, although all regions received allocations, not every Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly was captured in the exercise.
“For instance, in the Greater Accra Region, Ada West District, Ada East District and Ningo/Prampram Municipality were prioritised for this recruitment process,” he stated.
Mr. Acheampong stressed that regions and districts with higher staffing gaps and healthcare demands received larger allocations.
“In the interest of transparency, regional allocations were based on staffing norms and annual human resource requirements submitted by the agencies,” he said.
The Ministry disclosed that it received financial clearance in April 2026 to recruit about 8,000 health professionals amid a backlog of more than 105,000 unemployed health workers.
The recruitment portal recently came under criticism after many applicants complained of “no slots available” messages while attempting to apply.
However, the Ministry attributed some of the challenges to heavy traffic on the system and attempted breaches by hackers, while assuring the public that the process remained transparent and fair.
Data released by the Ministry showed that more than 53,000 records were uploaded onto the recruitment platform, with Registered General Nurses recording the highest number of applicants nationwide.
The Ministry also revealed that some vacancies remain unfilled, particularly for Registered Public Health Nurses and Mental Health Nurses in northern districts.
A mop-up recruitment exercise is expected to be conducted in the coming weeks to fill the remaining slots and accommodate critical areas within teaching and psychiatric hospitals.
The Ministry further announced plans to recruit medical officers and engage over 6,000 volunteers, especially Nurse Assistant Preventive personnel, to support the implementation of the Free Primary Healthcare initiative.
