The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has appealed to Regional Ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs), and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to take greater responsibility in retaining medical doctors posted to rural and underserved parts of the country.
According to the minister, one of the most pressing challenges confronting Ghana’s health sector is the growing reluctance of newly posted doctors to accept and remain at postings in deprived regions. He acknowledged that many of these professionals cite poor living conditions, inadequate accommodation, and the absence of incentives as key reasons for rejecting rural postings.
To confront the situation, Mr. Akandoh revealed that he has intensified engagements with regional and local stakeholders across the country to develop practical and sustainable solutions to the problem.
“I have been engaging with DCEs, the Regional Ministers, the MPs, and traditional leaders,” the minister stated. “If you expect me to post a medical doctor or any health professional to your district, then you must be prepared to provide decent accommodation and the necessary support systems to retain them. This is a collective responsibility, and we must work together to resolve it.”
The minister made these remarks during a validation and working visit to the Upper East Region, where he toured facilities at the Regional Hospital and held meetings with health workers as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to discuss challenges affecting healthcare delivery in the region.
During the visit, Mr. Akandoh disclosed worrying statistics regarding doctor retention in the region. He noted that although 27 doctors were officially posted to the Upper East Region this year, only seven reported for duty. Out of those who reported, two later declined to stay and moved to the Northern Region, where they were subsequently retained. This development leaves only five of the newly posted doctors currently serving in the Upper East Region.
Of the five doctors remaining, four are working at the Regional Hospital, while one accepted posting to the Paga Hospital.
The Health Minister described the situation as a reflection of a broader national challenge in the equitable distribution of medical professionals. He observed that a significant proportion of doctors prefer postings to major urban centers, particularly the national capital.
“About 50 percent of all medical doctors in this country are currently in Greater Accra, and when you analyze the data further, a large concentration is found within Accra itself,” Mr. Akandoh explained. He described this trend as a serious imbalance that requires urgent government intervention.
To address the disparity, the minister said government has adopted a deliberate policy to post more doctors to rural and district-level health facilities where shortages are most severe. He revealed that approximately 83 percent of doctors recruited in 2025 were posted to primary healthcare facilities, especially in rural communities, while a smaller proportion were assigned to tertiary hospitals.
Mr. Akandoh further indicated that although government is exploring ways to improve incentive packages for health workers, such measures must be implemented carefully to ensure fairness across other sectors of the public service.
He concluded by reiterating that improving healthcare delivery in deprived regions will require strong collaboration between central government and local authorities, stressing that without adequate local support systems, efforts to bridge the healthcare gap will remain a challenge.
Sources: BlueWaves Radio 93.7 FM |Maurice Duncan
