Paramount Chief of the Sunyani Traditional Area, Odeefour Ogyeamansan Boahen Korkor II, has urged the government to trigger punitive action against doctors and nurses who refuse postings to rural communities.

The traditional leader’s call aims to address the growing disparity in healthcare delivery between urban centers and underserved rural areas, asserting that such actions are tantamount to a betrayal of national duty.

According to a report by thechronicle.com.gh on March 26, 2026, Odeefour Ogyeamansan Boahen Korkor II made the remark at the 2025 Annual Performance Review Meeting of the Bono Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service in Sunyani.

He urged the top hierarchy of the Ministry of Health (MoH) to enforce strict punitive measures to compel medical and nursing graduates to serve wherever they are posted.

His comments follow the huge shortage of health personnel in the Bono Region.

Doctors who refused rural postings will be removed from payroll - Minister of Health

He contended that urban facilities are overcrowded with health personnel, while rural communities are left to grapple with non-availability of doctors or nurses.

“It is only in Ghana that employees dictate where they want to work. People are dying in rural areas because doctors and nurses prefer to overcrowd themselves in the cities. There must be deliberate punitive measures against such health personnel,” he said.

His concerns were highlighted by statistics given by the Bono Regional Director of Health Services, Osei Kuffour Afreh who disclosed that out of the seven doctors assigned to the region in 2024, only two remained at their posts.

Similarly, in 2025, about 30 doctors initially accepted postings, but only 12 reported to the region.

He consequently appealed to the government for special incentives for health professionals posted to underserved areas by the Directorate to encourage retention.

He also called for improved conditions of service for health workers but stressed that beneficiaries of public-funded education must honour their obligation to serve all citizens, especially those in rural communities whose taxes support their training, allowances, and salaries.

SO/VPO

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