Unemployed Nurses and Midwives Stage Protest in Accra Demanding Employment

On Sunday, hundreds of graduate nurses and midwives, including rotational nurses, held a protest in Accra, Ghana, to demand their immediate employment and postings. The protesters, comprising the 2020, 2021, and 2022 batches of graduates from various public universities and nursing training colleges across the country, marched through the principal streets of the city despite heavy rains.

The demonstrators, organized by the Graduate Unemployed Nurses and Midwives Association (GUNMA) and the Rotational Nurses and Midwifery Association, accused the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance of failing to grant financial clearance for nine months to secure permanent employment for trained nurses and midwives since 2020. They marched from the Greater Accra Regional Hospital to the Ministry of Health, Parliament House, and the Ministry of Finance, carrying placards with slogans such as "Service to the nation-slavery to the nation" and "The struggle is enough, we need our allowance."

The leadership of the groups presented their petition to the Ministry of Health, Parliament, and the Ministry of Finance, seeking financial clearance for their employment. The protesters claimed that the Ministry of Finance had failed to provide the necessary clearance despite their successful completion of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) licensing exams. The protest was met with a heavy security presence, and the officials receiving the petitions assured the protesters that their concerns would be addressed.

Why this matters: The protest highlights the plight of over 75,000 unemployed nurses and midwives in Ghana who have been unable to find employment four years after completing their education. The situation has led to frustration and financial hardship for these healthcare professionals, who are eager to contribute their skills and knowledge to the nation's healthcare system.

Isaac Offei Baah, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, expressed the Ministry's commitment to addressing the issues raised by the protesters. He stated that the Ministry has forwarded the list of nurses to the Ministry of Finance for clearance and recruitment, and is working to ensure their recruitment and posting. Baah noted that the Ministry has provided evidence of their efforts to the nurses' representative. The protesters, however, vowed to continue the protest until their demands for immediate employment and payment of their outstanding trainee allowances are met.

Key Takeaways

• Hundreds of graduate nurses and midwives protested in Accra, Ghana, for immediate employment.
• Protesters accused the government of failing to grant financial clearance for their employment since 2020.
• The protest was organized by the Graduate Unemployed Nurses and Midwives Association and the Rotational Nurses and Midwifery Association.
• The Ministry of Health expressed commitment to address the issue and forward the list to the Ministry of Finance.
• Protesters vowed to continue the protest until their demands for employment and allowances are met.