Thousands of unpaid nurses and midwives across Ghana have raised alarm over what they describe as “inhumane treatment” by the government, after working for a full year without receiving their salaries. The Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives Association Ghana has called on the authorities to urgently release all outstanding payments, warning that the ongoing neglect is causing severe financial, psychological, and social distress.
Speaking at a press conference held at the GRNMA Guest House Conference Room in Kumasi on Monday, Daniel Akwasi Agyei, Organizer of the Coalition, addressed the media on behalf of the affected health professionals. He described the situation as both unfair and deeply demoralizing.
“We stand before you today not as agitators, but as tired, frustrated, and deeply wounded health professionals who have served this country faithfully for a whole year without our salaries,” Mr. Agyei declared. He explained that after twelve months of dedicated service — attending to emergencies, caring for patients, and working long shifts in hospitals — the majority of affected members have received only one month’s salary, leaving eleven months of unpaid wages.
The situation is particularly dire for approximately 300 members who did not even receive the single month’s payment, and their financial status remains uncertain. With their extended financial clearance set to expire on December 31, 2025, these health workers face an uncertain future.
Mr. Agyei further highlighted a troubling disparity: while over 7,000 colleagues who started receiving salaries in April 2025 have had their arrears paid in full, 6,261 unpaid nurses and midwives remain completely abandoned. He described the partial payment to some as a “deceptive action” that has caused “heartbreak and shattered hope.”
The financial and social impact on unpaid professionals has been severe. “Our rents expired this month, and many of us are facing eviction,” Mr. Agyei revealed. “We go to work on empty stomachs, unable to afford even basic meals. We walk long distances to our facilities because we cannot afford transportation. We are sinking in debt, borrowing just to survive. And worst of all, we are battling depression, disgrace, and psychological distress from doing full-time work with no pay.”
The Coalition also expressed frustration with the Ministry of Health, which had promised a payment plan after the November salary. “Weeks of complete silence followed, and instead we received a misleading press release claiming that all of us had been paid. The reality on the ground is the exact opposite,” Mr. Agyei asserted.
“This is not just unfair, it is inhumane,” he emphasized, flanked by other leadership members. “This is not just a delay; it is a betrayal. And this is not just our burden, it is a national crisis affecting the very foundation of Ghana’s health system.”
The Coalition has vowed to pursue all legal, advocacy, and public awareness avenues to ensure the government fulfills its obligations. They warned that failure to pay these essential health workers promptly could have dire consequences for healthcare delivery across the country, potentially compromising patient care and public health outcomes.
As Ghana’s unpaid nurses and midwives demand recognition and remuneration for their year-long dedication, the government faces growing pressure to address the crisis and restore hope and dignity to its frontline health workforce.
