The Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives has staged a protest on Thursday, October 2, 2025, to demand the payment of salary arrears owed by the government.
According to the group, over 7,000 nurses and midwives have been working without salaries for the past nine to 10 months, despite being formally recruited through official government processes.
The protest, which began at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, will see demonstrators march to the Ministry of Finance and later the Ministry of Health, where petitions will be submitted to demand immediate resolution of the matter.
Convenor of the coalition, Stephen Kwadwo Takyiah, expressed frustration over the situation, describing it as unfair and unsustainable.
“We are not comfortable hitting the streets, but it has become necessary. We are citizens, trained as professional nurses and midwives from nursing training colleges and universities.
“We graduated in 2020, completed our rotations, and waited at home for three years. In July 2024, the Ministry of Health announced it had secured financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance for our employment.The portals were opened, we registered, and by October 2024, we received postings and reported to work in December. Out of the 15,000 announced, about 13,000 took up postings.
“But in April 2025, only some of our colleagues started receiving salaries. As we speak, just over 6,500 have been paid, while nearly 7,000 of us have worked for close to 10 months without pay,” he lamented.
The coalition insists the government must act swiftly to address their plight, warning that the delay in payments is demoralising and undermines healthcare delivery nationwide.
A coastal community in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region has recorded 20 diarrhoea cases, following a worsening water shortage triggered by the shutdown of Ghana Water Limited’s Headworks at Kwanyako.
Health officials at the Gomoa Fetteh CHPs compound say the lack of water has made it increasingly difficult to maintain hygiene and sanitation at the facility.
Senior midwife, Belinda Serwaa Sarfo, confirmed to Citi News that “20 people reported to the facility with diarrhoea cases [on Sunday],” adding that cases of enteric and typhoid fever are also being reported.
A terrible scene of the water Senior midwife, Belinda Serwaa Sarfo
The health centre has been without water for over a week, with tanker delivery services stretched thin due to high demand across the district. The shortage has left staff struggling with basic care.
One resident, Muda Siru, who rushed his child to the facility, recounted how treatment was delayed because nurses had difficulty finding clean bedsheets.
“They were trying their best, but I saw they were frustrated. There’s no water at the facility, so they haven’t been able to wash the used bedsheets. The nurse on duty struggled before finding a clean one. So I’m even considering getting them an additional storage tank and support water delivery to the CHPs zone,” he said.
Local leaders warn that the crisis is worsening. Assemblyman for the community, Frank Enyinda, noted that residents are paying exorbitant prices for water, with some forced to travel long distances to Senya Breku to fetch supplies.
“My people are suffering. A bucket of water is now selling at an exorbitant price. Not many can afford. The rate of infections may increase,” he lamented.
Some households are now resorting to unsafe water sources, including shallow pools also used by animals.Dwantoahene of the community, Nana Kwesi Arhin, has appealed to the government to intervene decisively. Linking the crisis to illegal mining activities, he said: “I watched the news on Channel One TV and realised the situation is caused by the shutdown of the Kwanyako plant due to galamsey.
“I want the government to be bold and take decisive action against the galamseyers so that we can all be safe.”The chief, who disclosed that he spends nearly GHS 1,000 weekly on tanker services, warned that the community’s plight will deepen if urgent measures are not taken.By:Akwasi Addo
Residents in parts of the Central Region, especially in the Kwanyako enclave, have been forced to use water from unsafe sources following the shutdown of the Kwanyako Headworks by the Ghana Water Limited (GWL).The decision was necessary after the company learnt that intake pumps at treatment plants at the headworks had broken down due to heavy silt accumulation.
According to officials, before this challenge, the headworks produced and supplied over 25,000 cubic metres of water per day.
However, production has been halted currently.Divers who were hired to assess the situation of the pumps underwater have recommended that the pumps be desilted.
some terrible scenes
Their assessment also recommends dredging of the river.
Meanwhile, officials at the Kwanyako headworks say the dredging would still yield no useful impact should the illegal mining activities continue.Source: Albert Kuzor
“I do not think about that. It doesn’t matter anymore…I am going to die anyway. The truth is, I am tired of taking medicines. The more tests and scans they (doctors) do on me, the more they discover other problems…”
Amina (not her real name) is a 25-year-old College student who has a severe form of sickle cell disease, a common inherited abnormality of red blood cells among people of African descent. Amina’s type of sickle cell is called “SS” disease or sickle cell anaemia.
This devastating blood disorder affectsnearly 3 out of 100 newborns in Ghana and causes life-threatening complications such as excruciating, usually unprovoked, bone pain, anemia, infections, strokes, and more.
Amina has experienced many of these complications: a stroke, life-threatening lung stiffness, heart problems, and recently, permanent softening of her hip bones leading to chronic pain affecting her ability to walk correctly.
In assessing her psychological well-being in our last consultation, she shared the above response. Amina is not alone. An estimated 1000 babies are born with sickle cell disease daily; 3 quarters of them in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is little access to interventions that provide life-long relief from the complications of the disease. They live in constant physical and mental pain.
Among these ‘new’ interventions in the last couple of decades are medicines such as hydroxyurea, which prevent some of these debilitating complications when taken regularly and at the proper doses.
Author:Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a Sickle Cell and Childhood Cancer Expert and a Siano
Hydroxyurea or HU is an old cancer treatment medicine that is cheap, taken by mouth, and ‘fixes’ the abnormally sickle red blood cells, making patients feel much less pain and anemic.
Then there is the new kid on the block, gene therapy, that cures it! Yes, you read right, a cure for sickle cell is available, but only if one can come up with justa couple of million United States Dollars!Quite understandably, many families affected by SCD have advocated for efforts to get a “cure” in Ghana.
So, should Ghana spend its efforts in making Amina’s life better by chasing the cure or investing in HU?And why am I appearing to deny Amina a “cure” to end her suffering?
While the ideal is to ensure universal cure for all sickle cell disease warriors, it is most likelya long-term goal built on carefully designed infrastructure, trained human resources, and well-established practices. This requires time and specialized effort in addition to ensuring sustainable access to funding. Currently, a cure through gene therapy is financially and technically inaccessible.
However, hydroxyurea is a simple, cost-effective, and safe treatment for sickle cell disease that reduces pain episodes, hospitalization, and other life-threatening complications in Africa. Butit is not universally accessible to patients in Ghana.
We need effective treatments for sickle cell disease in Ghana. We must bring a cure to our sickle cell warriors, but do so sustainably. While we wait to get it right and cost-effective, hydroxyurea therapy is as good as the cure and a low-hanging fruit to pluck
Wondering how Amina is doing? I met her about 4 years ago. She bravely battled her way through a mine field of sickle cell related complications and broken heart. A couple of months ago I received a message that she had been hospitalised, again, in coma at the intensive care unit. She never woke up from her coma. I never got to say good-bye.
Rest in peace my teacher and friend, “Amina”.
Author is Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a Sickle Cell and Childhood Cancer Expert and a Siano
The Oti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Kofi Amo-Kodieh, has denied reports of deaths linked to the recent typhoid outbreak in the region.
Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Dr Amo-Kodieh credited public health education and early treatment for preventing fatalities.
“So far, we have no record of anyone dying from this outbreak. Our health education campaigns have helped people seek care on time, which is crucial in managing typhoid,” he said.
His comments follow claims by Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong, that the outbreak had claimed the lives of a traditional leader and a former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Dambai.
Reacting to these assertions, Dr Amo-Kodieh cautioned against linking deaths to typhoid without medical verification.
Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong
“As a medical professional, when someone dies, I rely on the official medical cause of death. I have not received any information confirming that anyone has died from this outbreak,” he stated.
He added: “People may assume a death is caused by typhoid, but the only way to know the exact cause is through a medical certificate of cause of death. Until that is confirmed, we cannot say for certain.”
The Oti Region has recorded over 10,000 typhoid cases in the first half of 2025. Source: Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy
At dawn in Kumasi’s crowded Sawaba neighbourhood, 67-year-old Kofi Owusu Mensah begins his day facing a painful and familiar dilemma: buy food for his family or insulin for himself.
“I stretch my doses—sometimes skipping injections—to make each vial last longer,” he says, his frail hands resting on a worn wooden table in the cramped two-room apartment he shares with his wife and two grandchildren. “The doctors warn me, but what choice do I have when the medicine costs half my pension and the children have not eaten?”
Once a respected schoolteacher, Mr Mensah never imagined that retirement would come with the daily threat of medical bankruptcy. His struggle is not unique. In communities across Ghana, thousands of families living with diabetes are trapped in a cycle of impossible choices—between medication and meals, rent and survival.
The rising cost of diabetes care, limited availability of drugs, and systemic failures in Ghana’s health infrastructure have turned a manageable chronic illness into a public health and economic crisis.
For many, staying alive means going broke. And as the number of diabetes cases climbs steadily, the nation is staring down an epidemic that threatens not only lives, but livelihoods. Mr Mensah is one of approximately 2.4 million Ghanaians living with diabetes, according to the Ghana Health Service’s latest statistics from April 2023.
Mr Hope interviewing Mr Simmons
A silent burden with deadly consequences
According to health experts, diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. It is often linked to genetics, unhealthy diets, obesity, lack of physical activity, and rising urban stress levels. In Ghana, Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent and is increasingly being diagnosed among younger adults.
If poorly managed, the disease can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, and lower limb amputations. It also increases susceptibility to infections and can severely reduce life expectancy if left unchecked.
Yet for many Ghanaians, managing diabetes is a luxury. At Kumasi’s Adum Clinic, Dr Ernest Asubonteng sees the toll every day.
“The monthly cost of managing diabetes ranges from GH₵300 to GH₵800 per patient, depending on the medication,” he explains. “With the minimum wage barely reaching GH₵800, some patients do not die from diabetes itself, but from their inability to afford consistent treatment.”
Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) covers some basic diabetes medications, including certain insulin types. However, the out-of-pocket burden remains heavy, especially for glucose monitors, test strips, specialised care, and diabetic-friendly nutrition.
Ernest Kofi Bentsil Simmons, a nursing officer at the Adum Clinic, explains how essential monitoring tools are beyond the reach of many. “A glucometer costs between GH₵300 and GH₵500 depending on the brand. Each month, you need strips that cost another GH₵100 to GH₵200,” he says. “You can not take your drugs safely without checking your blood sugar. But most people can not afford to do this regularly.”
At Manhyia Government Hospital, Dr (Pharm) Esther Asantewaa Acherekoh, Head of Pharmacy, encourages patients to renew and actively use their NHIS cards.
“The scheme does help significantly —insulin is covered—but explains that some patients have preferences for special brands of medications which are not covered by the health insurance scheme.
Still, many patients encounter stock outs and are forced into private pharmacies, where prices are significantly higher. Florence Addo, 52, a vegetable trader at Kejetia ‘Dubai’ Market, holds up her battered NHIS card.
“This card does not help much,” she says. “Last month, the hospital pharmacy had no insulin. I had to go to a private pharmacy and pay three times the price.”
A deeper crisis outside the cities
In rural areas, the diabetes crisis deepens. In Aframso, a farming village in the Ashanti Region, the struggle includes not just cost— but access.
“The nearest hospital with a diabetes specialist is 70 kilometres away,” says Kwame Boateng, a community health nurse. “Transport costs alone deter patients, and many arrive only to find the medicine unavailable.”
For 63-year-old cassava farmer, Abena Kyeremaa, the cost of care includes lost income and personal suffering. “During the rainy season, the roads become too dangerous. Sometimes I miss treatment for weeks,” she says, showing her swollen feet—evidence of advanced diabetic complications.
Ghana’s pharmaceutical supply chain is riddled with weaknesses: fragmented procurement, poor storage, inconsistent stock monitoring, and an overreliance on imports. Local manufacturing is limited, and essential drugs frequently run out in public facilities.
According to the Ghana National Drugs Programme, only 30 per cent of essential diabetes medicines are consistently available in public health outlets, forcing patients into unregulated private markets with unpredictable pricing.
From illness to indebtedness
For many, diabetes becomes a debt sentence. Samuel Ofori, a 42-year-old driver from Tepa in Ashanti, reveals a folder full of loan documents. “When my daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes three years ago, I thought we could manage. Now I owe banks, friends, and loan sharks. The interest is crushing us.”
Abigail Mensah, a private financial consultant, explains just how devastating the economic impact can be: “A family’s risk of catastrophic health spending increases by 300 per cent once chronic illness strikes,” she says. “Most households deplete their savings within six months. Then comes asset sales, children dropping out of school, and debts that can not be repaid.”
Emerging hope amid hardship
In the face of hardship, some innovative solutions are beginning to emerge. In Kumasi, a nurse and homeopath, Solomon Kofi Boadu, has launched a medication subscription model offering discounts of up to 40 per cent to diabetic patients.
“We buy drugs in bulk and deliver directly to patients. Using mobile money, we avoid middlemen and reduce costs,” Boadu says. His initiative now serves more than 500 patients across Ashanti Region and plans to expand nationwide.
Health policy experts believe meaningful change is possible— but only with systemic reform. They call for expanded NHIS coverage, price regulation for essential medications, investment in domestic pharmaceutical production, and better integration of chronic disease care into basic health services.
Countries like Rwanda and Thailand, they argue, have demonstrated that strong public health insurance systems can drastically improve access to care and protect families from poverty.
Back in Sawaba, Kofi Mensah’s wife, Akosua Gyamaa, is fighting back in her own way. She has launched a small catering business that specialises in diabetic-friendly Ghanaian dishes. “We will survive this,” she says, stirring a pot of low-carbohydrate jollof rice. “But it should not be this hard to stay alive with a manageable disease.”
As Ghana’s diabetes burden is expected to rise to 3.6 million by 2030, a vital question looms: Will access to life-saving medication remain a privilege for the few, or become a right for all? For the likes of Mr Mensah, the answer may spell the difference between resilience and ruin—not just in health, but in dignity.
The Paramount Chief for Prang in the Pru West District of the Bono East Region, Nana Kwadwo Nyarko III, has made a passionate appeal to President John Dramani Mahama, to channel all funds and resources intended for the construction of new projects in the area into the completion of Prang “Agenda 111” hospital project.
According to him, the project remains a priority among other projects and there is the need for him to continue to create awareness to get the attention of the appropriate authorities.
Nana Nyarko III, who is also the President of Prang House of Chiefs, noted that it would be more needful for the government to suspend every fund allocated for a different project and channel it into the Prang “Agenda 111” hospital project in order to complete it on time.
Nana Kwadwo Nyarko III
Speaking to “The New Trust” newspaper recently, the chief
explained that the project was about health which must not be toyed with at all.
“Without good health, there is nothing you can do as a human being,” he pointed out.
According to Prangmanhene, the completion of the project is not only going to benefit the people of Prang, but also communities like Yeji, Parembo, Abease, Atebubu, Kajeji, Kwame-Danso, among other communities.
President John Mahama
Nana Nyarko III indicated that the hospital is expected to handle special referral cases from the above mentioned towns when it is ready, instead of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.
He said the people of Prang had been coming to him and expressing worries over the delay in the project, for which reason there is the need for him to continue to lobby through the authorities for the contractors to come to the site of the project.
The chief said he had been always advising them not to resort to the use of demonstrations, but rather continue to use the appropriate medium by visiting him in the palace for him to also channel their concerns through the right channels.
“My people would have organised demonstrations to push government to bring the contractors back to the site of Prang “Agenda 111”, but I have been always advising them that we don’t use force to demand something.
“Ghana is big and every area is seeking a project which we must exercise a little patience for the authorities,” he noted.
Akwasi Boateng, a resident of the area, praised Prangmanhene for his leadership styles for always advising them on good moral principles.
He said Prang is one of the violence-free areas in Ghana, because Nana Nyarko III always advocates peace and development.
He described Prangmanhene as a counsellor, advocator, a development-oriented leader and peacemaker.
According to him, Ghana can be more peaceful if all the chiefs emulate the shining examples of Nana Nyarko III.
The National Health Students Association of Ghana (NAHSAG) ,has honoured the Member of Parliament for Juaben, Hon. Francis Kwabena Berepong Owusu-Akyaw, with a Citation of Honour in recognition of his unwavering support, visionary leadership, and outstanding contributions to the advancement of healthcare and youth empowerment in Ghana.
According to NAHSAG, Hon. Owusu-Akyaw played a pivotal role in the success of this year’s congress, serving as a major driving force behind its planning and execution. His commitment to supporting the development of future healthcare professionals and his dedication to inclusive leadership earned him admiration from student health leaders across the country.
. Hon.Francis Kwabena Berepong Owusu-Akyaw,(first from the right) receiving the citation
In the citation, the Association praised the Juaben legislator for his “unrelenting commitment to championing the interests and aspirations of future Ghanaian health professionals,” describing his efforts as “a beacon of hope” for the youth. His selfless contributions, the citation noted, have left “an indelible mark on the growth, development, and trajectory of NAHSAG,” fostering a culture of mentorship, excellence, and inclusivity.
The citation further highlighted Hon. Owusu-Akyaw’s role in promoting partnerships, collaboration, and innovation, describing him as a leader whose vision has significantly shaped the future of student-led healthcare advocacy in Ghana.
The MP, in response, expressed deep gratitude for the recognition. “To be honoured by such a dynamic and forward-thinking group of young professionals is humbling. This recognition inspires me to do even more to support our youth and strengthen healthcare delivery in Ghana,” he said.
As NAHSAG looks to the future, the Association expressed optimism for continued collaboration with the Juaben MP, reaffirming their commitment to building a healthier and more resilient healthcare system for Ghana.
The National Health Students Association of Ghana represents the collective voice of health science students across Ghana and is committed to promoting quality healthcare, youth leadership, and innovation in the health sector.
The theme for Association’s 17th Annual Delegates Congress, held at KAAF University was “Visionary Leadership: Inspiring and Shaping the Future of Healthcare.”
The queen of Sawua Traditional Council in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region, Nana Akosua Abrafi Afisaa II, has sounded the alarm, urging President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of Health, and the Ghana Health Service to prioritize the effectiveness of the Sawua Regional Hospital.
Akosua Abrafi Afisaa II
The queen’s plea comes amid concerns over the hospital’s deplorable state and its impact on healthcare.
The hospital, which is under commissioning, has been ravaged by destruction and pest infestation, rendering the edifice unfit for work to commence.
Some scenes from the abandoned hospital
“We have this nice edifice here which could serve a large number of patients and release pressure from the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), yet we face a lot of maternal mortality here at Sawua due to the abundance of this Regional Hospital,” Nana Akosua stated.
“I’m pleading with President John Dramani Mahama, Health Ministry, Ghana Health Service, and other stakeholders to ensure that the Sawua Regional Hospital is attended to, to allow operations to cater for the healthcare of patients in the community and Ghana as a whole,” she added.
The Nana Akosua Abrafi Afisaa’s call for urgent intervention highlights the need for immediate action to address the hospital’s current state which is challenging.
“Are we going to leave the edifice to deteriorate to the level where we’ll have spend tax payers money to renovate before it can serve its purpose,” Nana Akosua Abrafi questioned.
A recent visit to the hospital by Otec FM reporter ,found out that the beautiful edifice has turned into a breeding ground for pests, such as rats, snakes among many others.
It was also noted that some doors to some gates have been removed, and roofing sheets also taken off by wind causing a huge destruction to the edifice.
The gutters that were constructed to take care of drainage system around the hospital have also been destroyed upon our visit to the hospital.
Authorities are therefore entreated to give a listening ear to the plea of the Sawua queen mother and Ghanaians to ensure that the hospital is commissioned to serve its purpose and bring relief to patients.
First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Dramani Mahama, on Friday, addressed beneficiaries at a comprehensive free public health screening event, emphasising the vital importance of early testing and proactive health management, especially for vulnerable populations within the community.
The event, a collaboration between the Office of the First Lady and the Ghana AIDS Commission, provided essential health services to various community members, including hairdressers, tailors, head-porters (kayayee), and market women.
Mrs.Lordina Mahama interacting with some health personnel during the screening exercise
Addressing the gathering, Mrs. Mahama underscored the purpose of the outreach. “We are here for a very important reason. For the health of our people, especially young people, women, and vulnerable groups in our communities,” she stated. “We aim to raise awareness, offer free check-ups, provide medical advice and counselling, and help more people take care of their health.”
The First Lady said many people may be living with serious health conditions without realising it, making such screening exercises essential.
“Sometimes, people are living with these conditions and do not even know it. That is why today’s health screening is very important,” she explained. “It provides an opportunity to get tested free of charge, know about their health, and take the necessary steps to maintain their health.”
She stressed the life-saving potential of early detection. “Early testing saves lives. Knowing your health status early enables you to start treatment early and prevent serious complications. Testing early can also help us to protect our loved ones.”
“For example, when people living with HIV get to know their status early, they can receive the right care and support, which will make them live long and healthy lives. But this can only happen if you get tested.”
The free health services provided at the event included HIV and syphilis screening, BMI and nutrition counselling, blood pressure checks and assessments for other medical conditions, and breast cancer screening.
Beneficiaries received awareness training on HIV/AIDS preventive measures and the importance of early antenatal care to prevent mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy.
Directing her message towards the younger generation present, the First Lady called for greater health consciousness. “I want to address the young people here directly. You are the future of this country. Your energy, your dreams and your well-being matter,” she said.
“However, many young people today are falling ill, sometimes due to a lack of access to the right information, services, or support they need. That must change. And it starts with talking openly to people who can help you, and by having a medical check at least once a year.”
She encouraged attendees to take full advantage of the services offered free of charge. “Today, you can check your HIV status, your blood pressure and sugar levels, and even be screened for breast cancer, right here at this event, all for free… I therefore encourage you all to take advantage of these services. Feel free to ask any questions that come to mind. We are here for you.”
Mrs Mahama also highlighted broader government efforts aimed at improving access to and outcomes in healthcare. She mentioned the recently launched Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as MahamaCares.
“When this fund is fully operational, it will bring relief to many people suffering from non-communicable diseases,” she noted, adding that it will help diagnose and treat conditions like heart illnesses, kidney disease, and various cancers.
She also referenced the upcoming Free Primary Healthcare Programme, which she said will “enhance awareness of the health status of our citizens and contribute to disease prevention.”
“Together, we can create a Ghana where every person knows their health status. Where every pregnant woman gets the care she needs, and where every child is born healthy and free from infection,” she stated.
