200,000 health workers recruited under Akufo-Addo gov’t

President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo has announced that over the past eight years, his administration has recruited 202,527 medical personnel, including medical officers, house officers, specialists, nurses, midwives and administrative managers.

He said this during the 2nd Edition of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) Excellence Awards on at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC). The event was under the theme ‘Sustaining Partnership for Effective and Efficient Healthcare Delivery’.

The President said that significant milestone was part of the government’s ongoing effort to improve Ghana’s healthcare system, and enhance access to quality medical care for all Ghanaians.

Efforts

This effort, he stated, had significantly improved access to quality healthcare across the country.

“Under my administration, significant strides have been made to bridge critical staffing gaps. Over the past eight years, we recruited some 202,527 medical personnel. These include, 12,132 medical officers, house officers and specialists, 165,222 diploma and degree nurses and midwives, 8,688 support staff, including administrative managers, cooks and executive officers, 1303 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, 80 medical herbalists and 13,471 allied health professionals and allied health interns,” he said.

He pointed out the introduction of digital health systems as a key milestone in achieving universal health coverage. He mentioned that Ghana’s global ranking in digital health had improved from an average of 3.5 to 3.0, underscoring the government’s dedication to advancing the health sector

Overall winner

Mrs Vivian Opoku-Kyeremeh, the Principal Midwifery Officer at Sunyani West District’s Dumasua CHPS in the Bono Region, was recognized as the overall national winner in the General Staff Category at the 2nd edition of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) Excellence Awards 2024. Her exceptional dedication and outstanding service in healthcare earned her this prestigious honor.

The award recognizes her tireless commitment to improving healthcare delivery, particularly in rural areas, where she has significantly contributed to the well-being of women and children.

Opoku-Kyeremeh’s prize included a certificate, a plaque, a 50-inch LED Smart TV, a brand-new Volkswagen Virtus saloon vehicle, and an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Dubai, marking a well-deserved recognition of her outstanding contributions to the health sector.

She indicated, “I am deeply honored by this recognition. It is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of not only myself but also my colleagues who work tirelessly in the healthcare sector. I am thankful to the Ghana Health Service for this opportunity and will continue to strive for excellence in my work.”

Appeal

The Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, appealed to the President to establish a National Health Workers’ Day to recognize and celebrate the dedication of Ghana Health Service workers, similar to the recognition given to teachers and farmers.

He praised the commitment and hard work of health workers across the country. He noted that the awards scheme was not only a platform to honour health workers but also an expression of gratitude for their relentless service to the nation.

“The Ghana Health Service Excellence Award was established to promote a culture of achievement within the health sector. This initiative aims not only to recognize excellence, but also to motivate others to aspire. This recognition enhances the quality of care across our healthcare facilities,” he said.

Dr. Aboagye acknowledged the support of President Akufo-Addo’s government for the health sector and reiterated the need for a National Health Workers Day, a dedicated day to celebrate health workers.

“Your Excellency, it is important to stress that the remarkable sacrifices of our health workers truly deserve national recognition and deeper appreciation. While tonight’s awards fulfilled part of this obligation, I strongly advocate for the institution of a National Health Workers Day, like the National Day dedicated to teachers and farmers. Such a day will provide a formal platform to honor and celebrate our extraordinary education of health workers,” he added.

He encouraged health workers to continue their exemplary service to Ghana, assuring them that their contributions were recognized and deeply appreciated.