Accept Postings or Risk Payroll Removal – Akandoh to New Doctors
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has issued a firm warning to newly qualified doctors across Ghana, stating that those who refuse postings, particularly to rural and underserved areas risk being removed from the government payroll by the end of February 2026.
The directive was delivered during a working visit to the University of Ghana College of Health Sciences at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where the Minister engaged with medical trainees, lecturers and health sector stakeholders on the growing challenge of staffing inequities in the country’s healthcare system.
Mr. Akandoh emphasised the urgent need to address the uneven distribution of medical professionals, noting that rural communities continue to suffer from severe shortages of doctors despite the country’s increasing output of trained health personnel. He called on medical educators to play a more active role in shaping the attitudes of young doctors toward national service and equitable healthcare delivery.
“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 stated.
The Minister underscored that medical training in Ghana is significantly supported by public funds, making it a national investment that requires a corresponding commitment from beneficiaries. According to him, refusing postings undermines efforts to extend healthcare access to all parts of the country, particularly deprived areas where medical services remain critically limited.
As part of enforcement measures, Mr. Akandoh announced that the Ministry of Health will undertake a nationwide validation exercise at the end of February 2026 to track compliance among newly posted doctors.
“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.
The policy signals a tougher stance by government aimed at ensuring that trained medical professionals contribute meaningfully to national healthcare delivery, regardless of location.
Health sector analysts say the move, while necessary to bridge staffing gaps, must be complemented by improved incentives, infrastructure, accommodation and working conditions in rural areas to make such postings more attractive and sustainable.
The directive highlights the broader challenge of balancing professional preferences with national development priorities, as Ghana continues to strive toward equitable and accessible healthcare for all citizens.
