NAHSAG Slams Health Ministry’s 8,000-Recruitment Drive as “Recruitment Without Equity,” Demands Fairer System

Story by Fada Amakye

The National Health Students’ Association of Ghana (NAHSAG) has criticized the Ministry of Health’s ongoing recruitment of 8,000 health workers as inadequate and unfair, warning that the process is breeding frustration among over 105,000 unemployed graduates.

In a press statement released on 18th May 2026, NAHSAG said the clearance covers less than 8% of the backlog of qualified but unemployed health professionals, some of whom have waited since 2018.

“The question therefore remains: What becomes of the remaining thousands of qualified professionals who have patiently waited for years with hopes of serving their nation?” the Association asked. “How long must trained healthcare professionals continue to sit at home while hospitals and health facilities across the country continue to grapple with workforce shortages.

NAHSAG also raised concerns over the new recruitment portal, citing technical failures, inaccessible slots, and abrupt shutdowns that left many applicants locked out within minutes.

“Must the future of a qualified health professional depend on internet speed, geographical location, or technological luck?” the statement said. “Recruitment into Ghana’s health sector must never resemble a digital survival contest.

The Association called for a more transparent, predictable, and technologically reliable system, and proposed that future recruitment prioritize applicants by graduation year batch. It argued that older batches who have waited the longest should not be pushed behind newer graduates.

NAHSAG also rejected the proposed community volunteer arrangement for graduates who miss out on recruitment, describing it as a demotion of highly trained professionals.

How can a nation invest years in training highly skilled healthcare professionals only to relegate them to poorly compensated volunteer arrangements afterward?” the group said.

The Association further warned that the current system risks fueling corruption and exploitation, as desperate applicants become vulnerable to middlemen demanding bribes.

NAHSAG reiterated its demand for the implementation of automatic posting, as promised in the NDC manifesto and reaffirmed by Health Minister Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. It urged the Ministry of Finance to increase financial clearance and expand recruitment numbers to absorb more graduates.

Investing in health professionals is not an expenditure; it is a strategic investment in national productivity, public health security, socioeconomic development, and healthcare resilience,” the statement said.

Signed by National President and Chief Spokesperson H.E. Ahmed Yakubu, NAHSAG said it remains open to dialogue with the Ministry but will continue to defend the welfare and aspirations of health students and graduates.

“The future of Ghana’s healthcare system cannot be built on uncertainty, frustration, and prolonged neglect of its young workforce,” the Association stated.