Accra, Ghana – Scores of frustrated nurses and midwives marched through the streets of Accra on Thursday to demand the immediate payment of their 10 months’ outstanding salaries.
Wearing red armbands over their official uniforms, the group – under the banner of the Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives, Ghana – gathered at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park at around 9 a.m. before proceeding to protest through key parts of the city.
They held placards with bold messages including:
- “Who cares for the caretaker?”
- “Pay us now!”
- “We are nurses, not slaves.”
- “We cannot survive on promises.”
- “Enough is enough – we are Ghanaians. Why are you exploiting us?”
‘We’re Starving While Saving Lives’
The protestors say the delay in salary payments has had a serious toll on their well-being.
“We cannot be advising patients to eat three times a day when we can barely afford two meals ourselves,” said Jaqueline, one of the nurses at the protest.
Another nurse, who preferred to remain anonymous, added:
“We are tired. We voted for change, not suffering. We have families—some of our parents are sick, our children need care. How are we expected to survive without pay?”
The group of about 50 demonstrators represented more than 6,500 affected nurses and midwives nationwide. They first delivered petitions to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health.
Coalition Demands Immediate Action
Reading from the petition, Stephen Kwadwo Takyiah, the group’s Convenor, said the government had blamed the delay on budgetary constraints and the expiration of financial clearance.
“It is completely unacceptable to treat officially recruited professionals—who have received valid financial clearance—as if they’re part of payroll irregularities,” he said.
The coalition is demanding:
- An immediate budgetary allocation to settle all arrears;
- A clear, communicated timeline for when payments will begin and end;
- A transparent process between the Finance and Health Ministries to prevent future delays.
Government Responds, But Protesters Unsatisfied
Receiving the petition on behalf of the Finance Minister, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Ampem Nyarko assured the group that their 9–10 months of unpaid salaries would be included in the next national budget.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh also promised that his ministry would meet with the Finance Ministry to help resolve the issue.
However, speaking to the Daily Graphic after submitting both petitions, Mr. Takyiah said the group was not satisfied with the responses received.
“We’ve heard promises before. What we need now is action,” he stated.
He added that the coalition would regroup with members who could not attend the protest to decide on their next course of action.
