Ghana’s Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, has revealed measures to address the mass migration of Ghanaian health workers in search of greener pastures.
The pressing need for government intervention is underscored by the concerns raised by Ghanaian health workers about the mass exodus, particularly among nurses, which has a damning effect on the country’s healthcare system.
Nearly 4,000 nurses reportedly left Ghana for Europe in 2023 alone, a trend that, if unchecked, could impact Ghana’s healthcare system.
Dr Okoe Boye addressed the issue at the 33rd Annual General Congress of the Ghana Dental Association (GDA) in Kumasi and proposed measures: “One of the initiatives the ministry will promote and sponsor involves partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between training centres and district facilities, health centres, and possibly CHPS compounds,” he stated.
He stressed the importance of practical training placements: “We can enhance professional development by incorporating practical experiences into training programs. For example, a dentist undergoing training at Komfo Anokye could spend a month in a district facility. Establishing MoUs between Ghana Health Service facilities and teaching hospitals or regional centres where dentists prefer to work can help achieve this.
“Another key strategy is collaboration with the GDA, Ghana Education Service, and teaching hospitals to increase annual training capacities.”
Apart from nurses, dentists are also seeking greener pastures abroad, a move that may cripple the workforce sustainability in Ghana’s healthcare sector.
