GH¢22.8bn Health Budget to Boost Infrastructure, NHIS and Workforce – Akandoh

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, says the government has allocated GH¢22.8 billion to the health sector in the 2026 fiscal year, aimed at strengthening healthcare infrastructure, expanding access, and improving conditions for health workers nationwide.

According to him, the budget will support improvements in health facilities, expansion of services under the Free Primary Healthcare package, increased funding for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and the recruitment of additional health professionals.

The allocation also prioritises better compensation, allowances, and welfare support for healthcare workers.

Mr Akandoh reiterated the government’s commitment to sustained engagement with nurses and midwives to improve working conditions, boost morale, and reduce the growing incidence of brain drain within the health sector.

“Continuous dialogue with health workers is critical to strengthening our healthcare system and ensuring quality service delivery across the country,” he said.

The Minister made these remarks in a speech read on his behalf at the 6th Annual National Dinner and Awards Night organised by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) in Accra on Saturday, December 13, 2025.

He commended nurses and midwives for their invaluable contributions to Ghana’s healthcare system, describing them as the backbone of the nation’s health delivery framework.

Mr Akandoh disclosed that the Ministry of Health has recruited 13,500 nurses and midwives to reinforce the health workforce, particularly at the frontline. He assured that all newly recruited personnel who have experienced delays in salary payments would be paid by the end of the year.

He explained that the recruitment forms part of broader efforts to improve frontline healthcare delivery under the Free Primary Healthcare and Mahama Cares initiatives.

He congratulated award recipients at the ceremony, praising their sacrifices, compassion and dedication to improving health outcomes across the country.

Also addressing the event, the Okyenhene and King of the Akyem Abuakwa Kingdom, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, commended nurses and midwives for their unwavering commitment to duty and urged them to remain pillars of Ghana’s healthcare advancement.

“The value of your profession cannot be measured by the number of hours you work, but by the dignity, comfort, and hope you offer patients,” he said.

He called on the government to invest in state-of-the-art health facilities to position Ghana as a hub for healthcare opportunities, noting that quality infrastructure must be matched with dedicated and compassionate professionals.

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, announced plans to roll out nationwide training in emergency care and basic life support for health workers. He also urged health professionals to improve customer care to reduce complaints and strengthen public confidence in the healthcare system.

President of GRNMA, Dr Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, said the awards ceremony—instituted in 2020—aims to recognise the outstanding contributions of nurses and midwives, particularly those serving in rural and underserved communities. She described them as indispensable to the health system.

At the ceremony, Beatrice Sewor, a Senior Nursing Officer at St Joseph Catholic Hospital in Nkwanta, Volta Region, was named National Best Nurse/Midwife for 2025 for her professionalism and dedication in a challenging rural setting.

Nana Gladys Kusi-Yeboah received the President’s Award for her contribution to advancing maternal health policy, while several other nurses and midwives were honoured for their service to the health sector.