Effiduase-Asokore MP, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, has raised alarms about the future of nursing and midwifery recruitment in Ghana, revealing significant changes that could impact thousands of healthcare graduates.
In a post shared on his official Facebook page, Dr. Afriyie disclosed that no new recruits will be hired into the Ghana Health Service (GHS) as nurses or midwives for the years 2025 and 2026.
According to the Member of Parliament, this decision stems from the recently presented budget, which outlines austerity measures and budgetary constraints facing the country.
For many aspiring healthcare professionals, the news has sent shockwaves through nursing schools and midwifery training institutions.
In his post, Dr. Afriyie confirmed that only the batch of nurses and midwives who graduated in 2020 were fortunate enough to receive clearance for employment in 2024.
However, the future is less certain for subsequent cohorts.
“Nurses and midwives graduating from both public and private institutions in 2021 and beyond are now caught in a state of limbo,” Dr. Afriyie remarked. “This freeze will extend at least until after the 2026 budget, leaving graduates without any clear path to employment in the public healthcare system.”
The Finance Minister, Ato Forson, unveiled the RESET budget this year in a bid to stabilize Ghana’s economy.
Among the austerity measures, cuts to public sector employment, including the health sector, were made to reduce government expenditure.
Dr. Afriyie, who has been vocal about the health sector’s challenges, has encouraged stakeholders to continue advocating for increased government spending on healthcare, as well as ensuring that trained professionals are absorbed into the system.
Source: metrotvonline.com
