Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives Slams Ghana Government Over Year-Long Salary Arrears

The Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives Association, Ghana, has issued a scathing indictment of the government, revealing that thousands of its members have worked a full year without salaries, leading to inhumane living conditions and profound distress.

Speaking at a press conference at the GRNMA Guest House Conference Room on Monday, December 15, 2025, Daniel Akwasi Agyei, the coalition’s organiser, addressed the media on behalf of the group.

He demanded immediate communication and full payment of all accumulated arrears.

“We stand before you today not as agitators, but as tired, frustrated, and deeply wounded health professionals who have served this country faithfully for a whole year without our salaries,” Agyei stated.

He detailed how, after 12 months of dedicated service in hospitals—attending emergencies and caring for the sick—the majority of affected members have received only one month’s pay out of twelve.

Around 300 members have not even received that single month, with their fate unknown as their extended financial clearance expires on December 31, 2025.

Agyei noted that the situation is worsened by the fact that over 7,000 colleagues, who began receiving salaries in April 2025, have had all arrears paid in full, leaving 6,261 nurses and midwives completely abandoned.

He called the partial payments to some a “deceptive action” that brought “nothing but heartbreak and shattered hope.”

The impact on unpaid professionals has been devastating. “Our rents expired this month, and many of us face eviction,” Agyei revealed. “We go to work on empty stomachs, unable to afford basic meals. We walk long distances to our facilities because we can’t afford transport. We’re sinking into debt, borrowing just to survive. Worst of all, we’re battling depression, disgrace, and psychological distress from full-time work with no pay.”

According to Agyei, the Ministry of Health promised a payment plan after November salaries but has since fallen silent for weeks. Instead, the coalition received a “misleading press release” claiming all had been paid—when the reality on the ground is the exact opposite.

“This is not just unfair; it is inhumane,” Agyei asserted, flanked by other leaders. “This is not just a delay; it is a betrayal. And this is not just our burden; it is a national crisis threatening the foundation of Ghana’s health system.”