The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has given newly posted medical doctors an additional week to report to their duty stations, following what he described as an alarming nationwide refusal to take up postings.
Mr Akandoh said the initial reporting figures were “not encouraging,” revealing that seven out of every ten newly assigned doctors had failed to report. The situation is most severe in the Upper West and Upper East regions, which recorded no arrivals as of Friday, November 28.
Addressing journalists in Accra on Tuesday, December 2, the Minister disclosed that in the Upper West Region alone, 25 out of 32 posted doctors had not reported, a development he warned could jeopardise healthcare delivery for nearly one million residents.
“We will give them an additional week to appeal to them to report to their various facilities where they have been posted. After that, we will do what we call validation,” he said. He emphasised that the postings would not be changed under any circumstances.
Mr Akandoh noted that the ministry was working with local authorities to make the districts more accommodating for the doctors.
“We are engaging stakeholders in their respective districts—regional ministers, Members of Parliament, DCEs, chiefs—to facilitate their stay so they can give their best,” he said. He added that the government was also considering incentives to encourage compliance.
Despite the low turnout, the Minister expressed confidence that the doctors would eventually report, describing them as “wonderful medical doctors” who would respond to the call.
He also highlighted the uneven distribution of doctors across the country, pointing out that nearly half of Ghana’s medical workforce is concentrated in the Greater Accra Region.
“Is it not scary?” he asked. “So at this point, the government has made a decision: let’s post these medical officers to where their services are needed most.”
Mr Akandoh said regional health directors had already begun reaching out to the doctors through phone calls and would follow up with electronic messages.
He further disclosed that stakeholder engagements were ongoing to secure support, including accommodation and other provisions, to ease the transition for the newly posted doctors.
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