A coalition of unpaid nurses and midwives under the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has demanded the immediate payment of outstanding salary arrears, saying they received only one month’s salary after working for nearly a year in public health facilities.
The group said its members worked continuously for 12 months across hospitals and clinics but were paid for just a single month, a situation they described as cruel, demoralising and harmful to patient care nationwide.
In a strongly worded statement, the coalition said its members worked day and night, attending to emergencies and “helping keep Ghana’s health system alive,” yet were rewarded with only one month’s pay out of twelve. The group accused the Ministry of Health of broken promises and selective payments, warning that the financial neglect is destroying morale among frontline health workers.
Coalition leader Stephen Takyiah said the payment made so far falls far short of what is owed and does not reflect the sacrifices nurses and midwives have made. The group further revealed that about 300 members have not received even a single month’s salary, with their employment status remaining uncertain.
They also expressed concern that the situation could deteriorate further, as the extended financial clearance covering their employment is due to expire on December 31, 2025.
“The saddest part is that about 300 of our members did not receive even the one-month salary and their fate is not known, since the extended financial clearance expires on 31st December, 2025,” the group said.
They added that disparities in payments have deepened frustrations. “Even more troubling is the fact that a portion of our colleagues, over 7,000 nurses and midwives who began receiving salaries in April 2025, have had all their arrears paid in full, while the rest of us, totalling 6,261, have been completely abandoned. Some of us were even validated to receive full arrears in November, but surprisingly, we were paid just a single month’s salary. This deceptive action gave us nothing but heartbreak and shattered hope,” they stated.
The unpaid nurses and midwives also accused the Ministry of Health of failing to honour its commitment to publish a clear payment plan after the November salary payment. They described the situation as unfair and inhumane, warning that prolonged neglect could have serious consequences for the health sector as workers struggle with financial hardship while still being expected to deliver quality care.
Calling for urgent government intervention, the group demanded immediate engagement to address what they described as misinformation and to ensure the full settlement of all outstanding arrears.
“The Ministry of Health promised to release a payment plan after the November salary. Today, it has been weeks of complete silence. No roadmap, no timelines, no communication. Instead, what we have received is a misleading press release claiming that we have all been paid, when the reality on the ground is the exact opposite,” they said.
The statement concluded with a direct appeal to government authorities: “We demand immediate communication from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance and full payment of our accumulated arrears. We demand fairness, transparency, and respect for our labour and our dignity. We have served Ghana faithfully. It is time for Ghana to do the same for us.”