By Amoako Kwame
Government is set to employ 16,000 health workers in 2026 as part of efforts to expand the health sector workforce and improve healthcare delivery across the country, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has disclosed.
He noted that recruitment for about 8,000 of the planned intake has already been finalised, while arrangements are underway to recruit the remaining personnel.
Addressing participants at the 2026 Annual Health Summit in Accra on June 9, the Health Minister said government is intensifying efforts to deploy health professionals to underserved communities in a bid to bridge staffing gaps and improve access to healthcare services.
He disclosed that more than 14,000 health workers were added to the government payroll in 2025, with plans underway to recruit an additional 16,000 personnel this year.
“More than 14,000 health workers were employed onto the government payroll in 2025. This year, we are targeting the recruitment of another 16,000 health professionals, and the process has already been completed for about 8,000 of them. We are also prioritising deployment to underserved areas,” he stated.
Mr Akandoh further highlighted improvements in the placement of medical doctors in deprived regions, noting a significant increase compared to previous years.
According to him, while only 12 doctors accepted postings to the country’s eight underserved regions in 2024, the number has risen substantially in 2026, with 100 doctors already deployed to those areas.
“In 2024, just 12 medical doctors accepted postings to underserved regions. This year, we have successfully posted 100 doctors to the same regions, and the exercise is still ongoing,” he added.
