The Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives on Thursday, October 2, staged a massive protest in Accra to demand the payment of salaries for nearly 7,000 health workers who have been working without pay for close to 10 months.
The demonstration began at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park and saw hundreds of protesters marching through key streets of the capital. They later converged at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health, where they presented petitions demanding immediate action from government.
According to the group, they received official postings in December 2024 after government granted financial clearance. While about 6,500 of their colleagues were successfully paid in April 2025, thousands remain unpaid despite repeated appeals to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance.
Convener of the coalition, Stephen Kwadwo Takyiah, expressed frustration at the delays, describing the situation as unacceptable and demoralising.
“While some 6,500 colleagues have been paid since April, the delay in settling the arrears of the rest is crippling the delivery of quality healthcare across the country,” he said.
Mr. Takyiah highlighted the toll the unpaid salaries have taken on the lives of health workers. He recounted the story of a colleague who recently underwent surgery but is unable to pay hospital bills, and another who struggles to purchase inhalers for asthma treatment, spending as much as GH¢300 monthly.
“Our people are suffering and some are dying, yet we have worked honestly,” he lamented.
He further drew attention to the national implications of the delay, warning that the government’s inaction threatens not just the livelihood of health workers but also the sustainability of healthcare delivery across Ghana.
Making a powerful comparison, Mr. Takyiah referenced President John Dramani Mahama’s speech at the recent UN General Assembly.
“The President said slave trade is the biggest crime against humanity. Today, I stand here to say this is modern-day slave trade. To deny citizens and health workers their salaries is the greatest crime any leader can commit,” he declared.
Some of the demonstrators also shared their struggles. One nurse revealed how unpaid wages have left her unable to settle rent due in December.
“I have been borrowing from friends and family since January, but now they ignore my calls because they are tired of me,” she said.
Another described how he survives on a single meal a day.
“Most days I wait until 2 p.m. just to eat gob3 and then drink water till the next day. Sometimes I eat only once, and on some days not at all,” he shared.
The protest reflects a recurring issue in Ghana’s public service, particularly within the health and education sectors, where new recruits often face long delays in receiving their first salaries.
For the nurses and midwives, Thursday’s protest was not only about demanding their arrears but also about dignity, fairness, and survival. Their message was clear: health professionals who sacrifice to save lives deserve prompt and fair compensation.
As the protests continue to gain attention, all eyes are now on government to respond swiftly. Failure to act could worsen Ghana’s already fragile healthcare system and deepen the frustration of frontline workers.
