Ghana May See 180,000 Unemployed Health Professionals by 2028, Health Minister Warns

Ghana could have as many as 180,000 qualified health professionals without jobs by the end of 2028 if current trends continue, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has cautioned.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View, Akandoh stated that the current backlog stands at about 74,000 unemployed health workers. With new graduates entering the workforce and limited state employment, the number could more than double within three years.

“By the end of 2026 … we will have an additional 23,000. By 2028, we will have about 47,000 more, taking the total to no less than 180,000.” he said.

He added that recruiting the 74,000 alone would require roughly GHS 6 billion annually — a sum that will be difficult to sustain given current fiscal constraints.

To manage the crisis, the government is considering gradual recruitment, managed migration to partner countries, and collaboration with private healthcare providers.

Critics and opposition voices have urged the state to empower the private health sector to ease the burden of absorbing all graduates.

The challenge comes amid ongoing protests by unemployed nurses and midwives and continuing calls for clearer health staffing policies.

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