Deputy Finance Minister, Hon. Thomas Ampem Nyarko, has assured the Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives that their nine to ten months of salary arrears will be factored into the government’s next budget.
His pledge follows a massive protest in Accra, where thousands of nurses and midwives demanded immediate action on what they described as a crippling delay in salary payments.
The coalition, representing about 7,000 unpaid health workers, began its march from the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park and proceeded to the Ministry of Finance and later the Ministry of Health. Clad in red armbands and chanting songs of frustration, the demonstrators carried placards highlighting their plight and calling for government accountability.
Upon receiving their petition, Hon. Ampem Nyarko reiterated the government’s commitment to resolving the matter. He stressed that the arrears would not be overlooked in the upcoming budget presentation to Parliament.
“We have inherited numerous legacy challenges, and we are working diligently to address them all. In the next month or so, the Finance Minister will be in Parliament to present a new budget and issues of health workers who have not been paid – not just you – even some doctors and others, are seriously being considered, and so you are going to receive your salary”
Hon. Thomas Ampem Nyarko, Deputy Minister of Finance
The Deputy Minister also apologised for the hardship endured by the health workers over the months, noting that their sacrifices were not lost on the government. “We appreciate the work that you do for Ghana, and I’m sorry for those of you who are not even well, but have had to walk all the way here to present this petition,” he added.
Nurses and Midwives Speak Out
Convenor of the coalition, Stephen Kwadwo Takyiah, described the delays as demoralising and unfair. He explained that nearly half of the nurses and midwives recruited had still not been paid after close to a year of work.
“We graduated in 2020, completed our rotations, and waited at home for three years. In July 2024, the Ministry of Health announced it had secured financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance for our employment.
“The portals were opened, we registered, and by October 2024, we received postings and reported to work in December. Out of the 15,000 announced, about 13,000 took up postings. But in April 2025, only some of our colleagues started receiving salaries. As we speak, just over 6,500 have been paid, while nearly 7,000 of us have worked for close to 10 months without pay”
Stephen Kwadwo Takyiah, Convenor of the Coalition
For many of the protesters, the lack of pay had left them in dire circumstances as they recounted the pain that comes with their current condition of service “We cannot be advising patients to eat at least three times a day to stay healthy, yet we ourselves cannot even afford two square meals,” said Jacqueline, an unpaid nurse who joined the march.
Some carried placards with messages such as “Ato, we are hungry!” and “Why punish us for ghost names?” Others openly wept as they narrated their struggles. One nurse broke down in tears, crying out, “We are dying, Mahama!” while another described colleagues struggling to pay for medication and medical bills.
“Our colleagues are suffering – our people are dying,” Mr. Takyiah stressed.
The coalition insisted that the delay in salary payments is not only unsustainable but undermines healthcare delivery across the country. With thousands of nurses and midwives working without compensation, many feel demoralised and unable to meet their basic needs.
While welcoming the Deputy Minister’s assurance, the group warned that further delays could force them to intensify their protests, arguing that health workers who risk their lives daily to provide essential services deserve better treatment from the state.
As Ghana prepares for the presentation of the new budget in Parliament, the plight of unpaid health workers will remain a test of the government’s commitment to addressing labour grievances in the health sector.
The coalition maintains that words must now translate into concrete action, with clear timelines for payments to restore confidence and morale among their ranks.
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