The Ministry of Health has committed to resolving the salary arrears owed to junior doctors, nurses, and midwives in response to increasing unrest within the healthcare community.

According to a report by citinewsroom.com, on October 3, this assurance comes as the Junior Doctors' Association of Ghana (JDA-GH) threatens a nationwide strike, set to begin on Tuesday, October 7, due to months of unpaid salaries and perceived unfair treatment.

This announcement follows a demonstration by unpaid nurses and midwives on Thursday, October 2, who are also demanding the payment of their overdue salaries.

Reports indicate that over 7,000 nurses and midwives have gone without pay for as long as ten months.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, October 3, Ministry of Health Spokesperson, Tony Goodman, explained that the delays were caused by rushed recruitment processes, particularly under the previous administration, which led to financial clearance issues.

"We had about 1,000 pharmacists who had completed their service but had not received their salaries; they have now been paid. Some medical officers faced similar delays, and they have also received their payments. Currently, we have officers doing their house jobs requesting their salaries.

"In the case of the medical doctors, there was a mix-up that has already been resolved and will be addressed," Goodman stated.

He added that the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah-Akandoh, is working with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that all outstanding arrears are cleared.

According to him, the rush to post health workers who had been waiting for several years contributed to the payroll challenges.

"Everyone who was not part of the financial clearance faced issues. As of yesterday, we have addressed this. We now know who has been paid and who is still awaiting payment," he remarked.

Tony Goodman assured the public that the ministry is dedicated to resolving the issue, emphasising that new financial clearances are being processed to regularise the salaries of affected health workers, while actively working to resolve these payroll challenges.

NAD/AE

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