Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has dismissed allegations that the Ministry of Health’s recruitment portal is fraudulent, attributing the difficulties experienced by applicants to heavy traffic and intense competition for limited access.
His comments follow growing frustration among health workers and prospective applicants who have complained about challenges accessing the online recruitment system, with some social media users describing the process as a scam.
Speaking to journalists after commissioning a Free Primary Healthcare post at the Madina Polyclinic on Thursday, May 14, Mr. Akandoh insisted that the portal being used is the official platform announced by the Ministry of Health.
According to him, the system is receiving a very high number of applications simultaneously, making access difficult for some users.
“You realise that about 10 people enter every second. So, it’s very, very competitive and it depends on where you are, your connectivity, and all that,” he explained.
The minister assured applicants that the recruitment exercise is legitimate and pledged transparency throughout the process. He said the ministry would publish recruitment details, including interview locations, district by district and region by region, once the exercise is completed.
Mr. Akandoh also acknowledged concerns about unemployment in the health sector and disclosed that the ministry is exploring additional strategies to increase recruitment while managing the migration of health professionals abroad.
He further warned job seekers to be cautious of fraudsters using the names of politicians and public officials to scam desperate applicants online.
According to the minister, anyone found engaging in fraudulent recruitment activities would face swift action from security agencies once evidence is provided.
During the event, Mr. Akandoh also spoke about the government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme, stating that the initiative is being funded locally through the National Health Insurance Fund rather than through loans or donor support.
He added that the programme would be implemented through the Ghana Health Service and private healthcare providers without creating additional bureaucratic structures.