The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has revealed that the NDC government is in advanced negotiations with 13 countries to create employment opportunities for Ghanaian nurses and midwives abroad.
According to the Minister, the initiative forms part of efforts to deal with the growing backlog of trained health professionals who have not yet been posted.
Speaking during a visit to the Sefwi Wiawso Nurses and Midwifery College in the Western North Region, he disclosed that thousands of nurses and midwives who graduated as far back as 2020 are still waiting for employment.
“We have a huge backlog of nurses from 2020 who are still waiting for employment. The government is negotiating with 13 countries to export our nurses, and once these agreements are signed, it will open doors for many of our health professionals,” he said.
The Minister added that plans are underway to hold a roundtable meeting with all health directorates in the Western North Region, aimed at finding practical solutions to challenges facing health facilities in the area.
If successful, the agreements are expected to provide relief for unemployed nurses while also strengthening Ghana’s bilateral relations with partner countries in need of healthcare personnel.