The Minority in Parliament has accused the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, of misleading health professionals regarding assertions that the government has obtained financial clearance for their employment and the payment of arrears.
During a press conference on Monday, October 13, Mr. Akandoh announced that the Cabinet had granted financial clearance for various categories of health professionals, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.
However, at a subsequent press conference, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, the Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore, challenged the minister’s assertions, labeling them as misleading.
He clarified that the financial clearance for the recruitment of health professionals had lapsed on December 31, 2024, under the previous administration, and accused the Mahama government of neglecting to renew it.
He further claimed that while the previous government had earmarked funds for the hiring of 15,000 health workers, only approximately 7,000 to 8,000 were employed before the administration changed. The remainder, he stated, were subsequently hired by the Ghana Health Service, despite their clearances having expired.
The Minority contended that funds are already accessible and thus sees no reason for the Health Minister’s choice to seek Cabinet approval to compensate the affected workers.
He questioned, “Why didn’t the government recognize the necessity to seek an extension? Funds were allocated for 15,000, yet only 7,000, or nearly 8,000, have commenced. The others were employed by GHS. Although they were late, they were in position.
“You didn’t find it necessary to instruct the institutions to reject them. Nor did the institutions advise you to dismiss them. This indicates that they filled the gap and were required to be in position, and the institutions utilized them. Embarrassingly, you claim that you have submitted it to the cabinet for approval. What type of cabinet approval is required when you already possess clearance?”
Dr. Afriyie charged the government with trying to conceal what he referred to as “a mess” in the management of employment matters within the health sector.
“He is deceiving the public. The government has created a mess, and they have realized that ten months have passed, and they are now attempting to rectify it,” he asserted.
The Minority insisted that the statements made by the Health Minister were deceptive and urged him to deliver precise information concerning the status of financial clearances and overdue payments for health professionals.
