The Graduate Unemployed Nurses and Midwives’ Association (GUNMA) has taken a firm stand against a voluntary service arrangement proposed by the Minister of Health for unemployed nurses and midwives, describing the proposal as a form of undue pressure on professionals who have waited years for formal employment.
GUNMA made clear that its objection is not rooted in unwillingness to serve the country, but in the manner in which the voluntary service initiative is being presented to unemployed health professionals who remain desperate for job opportunities after extended periods without work.
“Our concern is not about serving Ghana, we are trained, qualified and ready to serve, our concern is the manner in which voluntary service is being presented to unemployed professionals who have waited for years for employment,”
GUNMA
GUNMA noted that President John Dramani Mahama had previously spoken about the recruitment of 16,000 healthcare workers during the course of 2026, with the Ministry of Health further clarifying that an additional 8,000 healthcare workers are expected to be recruited before the end of the year.
According to the Association, government’s continued emphasis on voluntary service, rather than accelerated action on these recruitment commitments, has created confusion and frustration among affected professionals.
The group disclosed that approximately 40 percent of the 2021 batch of nurses and midwives have so far been recruited into formal employment, leaving many qualified colleagues from the same batch still without jobs years after completing their training.
Voluntary Service Tied to Future Recruitment Sparks Concern
Central to GUNMA’s objection was the suggestion that professionals who participate in the proposed voluntary service scheme may receive consideration or preference during future recruitment exercises.
The Association argued that this linkage effectively undermines the voluntary nature of the initiative, transforming it into a form of implicit obligation for unemployed professionals desperate to improve their employment prospects.
“If the service is genuinely voluntary, why should volunteering today potentially determine who gets an opportunity to be employed tomorrow?”
GUNMA
Leadership of the group was direct in labelling the situation for what it considers it to be, stating firmly that such an arrangement amounts to undue pressure rather than a genuine invitation to serve.
The group further noted that after years of remaining unemployed, affected nurses and midwives should not be emotionally pressured into offering free professional service simply because of their desperate need for formal jobs.
GUNMA’s Firm Position
Outlining its position clearly, GUNMA stated that it would not accept voluntary service as a substitute for the recruitment already promised by government, nor would it accept future employment opportunities being used as leverage to encourage unpaid professional labour.
The Association further insisted that the desperation felt by unemployed professionals should never be exploited as a basis for placing them under undue pressure to work without pay.
Accordingly, the group demanded the full fulfilment of the promised 16,000 recruitment exercise, along with clarity and concrete action on the additional 8,000 recruitment positions promised before the end of the year.
It further called for a recruitment process that is fair, transparent and equitable for all qualified nurses and midwives awaiting employment.
GUNMA extended a direct appeal to relevant stakeholders to investigate the matter and help bring the concerns of unemployed nurses and midwives to the attention of the wider Ghanaian public, while calling on stakeholders more broadly to speak up and demand accountability on the issue.
The Association also issued a respectful but firm appeal directly to government and the Ministry of Health, calling for the recruitment commitments made to Ghanaian health professionals to be honoured in full, rather than substituted with conditional voluntary arrangements.
Call for Respect and Fair Process
In its concluding remarks, GUNMA reiterated that its members are not refusing to serve their country, but are instead insisting that the recruitment already promised be honoured, and that their professional training and years of service be given the respect they deserve.
The Association stressed that after enduring years of waiting, sacrifice and adherence to every required process, affected nurses and midwives believe they deserve fair recruitment rather than a voluntary service arrangement carrying implicit employment conditions.
With government’s recruitment commitments for the remainder of the year still outstanding, attention will likely turn to how the Ministry of Health responds to GUNMA’s objections, and whether the proposed voluntary service initiative is reconsidered or restructured in light of the concerns raised by the Association on behalf of its unemployed members.
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