Government has moved to boost staffing in both the education and health sectors with the approval of thousands of new recruitments, according to announcements by the Ministers of Education and Health on Wednesday.
At a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, November 19, Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu disclosed that Cabinet has approved the recruitment of 6,100 additional teachers to help address persistent staffing gaps in schools nationwide.
He described education as the country’s largest employer and reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening the workforce.
Mr. Iddrisu also addressed reports of demonstrations by some teacher trainees from the 2023 cohort who are demanding postings and salary validation. He assured them that they are fully included in the newly approved recruitment batch.
“I understand that some striking teachers are looking for us on the streets of Accra. Let me respond to them that Cabinet has approved the recruitment of 6,100 more teachers, and therefore that category of teachers, which belongs to the 2023 cohort, is adequately captured,” he said.
Expressing surprise at the ongoing protest, the Minister urged the trainees to return to the appropriate offices to complete outstanding administrative processes needed for verification, reinstatement, and payment of salaries.
“They should rather be looking for us and going back to the offices for the purpose of audit and identification, to be reinstated and to be paid,” he added.
13,500 nurses & midwives
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced the completion of the recruitment of 13,500 nurses and midwives, marking a significant step in efforts to strengthen the country’s health system.
Speaking at the 19th Biennial Conference of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) in Tamale, the Minister said all newly engaged health personnel who experienced delays in receiving their salaries will be paid by the end of the month.
He noted that the recruitment aligns with the government’s broader strategy to enhance frontline healthcare delivery under the Free Primary Healthcare and Mahama Cares programmes.
Mr. Akandoh further indicated that the negotiated Conditions of Service for health workers are being reviewed for possible inclusion in the 2026 Budget.
He added that promotions within the nursing and midwifery sector have been regularised, resolving earlier delays caused by limited vacancies.
The Minister called for sustained collaboration among the Ministry of Health, labour institutions, and the GRNMA to tackle deployment challenges, improve specialist training opportunities, and ensure long-term stability of the health workforce
