16000 Nurses To Be Recruited in Phases- Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana has highlighted his government’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system, announcing plans to recruit 16,000 nurses and expand access to free primary healthcare services across the country.
Speaking at the Free Primary Healthcare Programme durbar held at the Ho Municipal Hospital as part of his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Volta Region, the President said the recruitment drive would be undertaken in two phases to address staffing gaps and improve healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved communities.
The recruitment forms part of broader efforts to build a resilient health system capable of delivering quality care to all Ghanaians, regardless of their location or financial status. This announcement comes as a relief at a critical time when concerns about unposted health care workers and nurses is at its peak.
President Mahama described the Free Primary Healthcare Programme as a major milestone towards achieving Universal Health Coverage, noting that the initiative is designed to remove financial barriers that often prevent people from seeking timely medical attention.
Under the programme, Ghanaians will be able to access primary healthcare services at Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, health centres and polyclinics without incurring out-of-pocket costs, a move he said would improve early diagnosis, disease prevention and overall public health outcomes.
The President also used the occasion to commend the management and staff of the Ho Municipal Hospital for a century long of dedicated service to the people of the Volta Region and beyond. He praised healthcare professionals across the country for their unwavering commitment and sacrifices in providing quality care under often challenging conditions.
Ghanaians are however urged to prioritise regular medical check-ups and adopt healthy lifestyles, stressing that early detection remains one of the most effective ways of preventing serious illnesses and reducing the burden of disease.
President Mahama further outlined ongoing government investments aimed at improving healthcare infrastructure nationwide. These include the establishment of new cardiac centres, planned upgrades to the Ho Teaching Hospital, and continued support through the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, which provides assistance to patients living with serious non-communicable diseases.
The President reiterated that improving healthcare remains a central pillar of his administration’s development agenda, pledging sustained investment to build a stronger, more accessible and people-centred health system.
The combined investments in human resources, infrastructure and preventive healthcare is a step in the right direction and would significantly improve health outcomes and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services for all Ghanaians. Health they say is Wealth and a Country that invests in the Health of it’s Citizens is in turn a Wealthy Nation that prospers it people.
By: Joyce Owusu
