Health Minister-designate Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has proposed a solution to tackle unemployment among Ghana’s health professionals.
During his vetting before the Appointments Committee on Friday, January 31, Akandoh emphasized the need for international partnerships to create job opportunities abroad.
“The unemployment situation among health professionals is alarming. The challenge largely stems from constraints on the wage bill. Therefore, we need to establish links with other countries to facilitate the migration of these professionals and create employment opportunities for them,” he stated.
Akandoh’s plan aims to facilitate the migration of health professionals to countries in need of skilled medical personnel. However, concerns remain about the potential impact on Ghana’s healthcare system.
The large-scale migration of health workers could worsen the shortage of medical personnel in the country, affecting service delivery in public health facilities.
Critics argue that the government should prioritize expanding domestic healthcare infrastructure and increasing budgetary allocations to absorb more professionals locally, rather than relying on external job placements.
Ghana has seen a significant number of health professionals seeking better opportunities abroad in recent years.