The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has cautioned newly qualified doctors that those who fail to report to their assigned duty posts, particularly in rural areas, could be removed from the government payroll by the end of February 2026.
He issued the warning during a working visit to the University of Ghana College of Health Sciences at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where he met with lecturers and medical trainers.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister urged trainers to encourage young doctors to accept postings across the country, especially in underserved communities facing serious staffing shortages. He disclosed that a nationwide validation exercise would be conducted at the end of February to ensure that only doctors who have reported to their assigned stations remain on the payroll.
“By the end of February, we will do validation. If you have not reported, we will take your name out of the payroll,” he warned.
Mr Akandoh acknowledged that some doctors may have genuine concerns about rural postings, including challenges related to infrastructure and living conditions. However, he stressed that medical education in Ghana is heavily subsidised by the state and funded by taxpayers.
“I think we must put our heads together to find a solution to this problem. I agree that there are genuine concerns, but our education is highly subsidised, even for fee-paying students. So if the cocoa-producing farmers in my constituency, Sefwi Antobea, have been used to fund your education and you come and tell me that the place is a village, then I beg to differ,” he said.
The Minister’s remarks come as the Ministry of Health intensifies efforts to bridge staffing gaps in rural and deprived areas, where access to healthcare services remains limited
