The National Health Students’ Association of Ghana (NAHSAG) has criticised the ongoing health sector recruitment exercise, describing the process as unfair, frustrating and inadequate to address the growing unemployment crisis among trained health professionals in the country.
In a press statement issued on May 18, the association expressed concern over what it described as widespread anxiety and disappointment surrounding the Ministry of Health’s recruitment exercise, while acknowledging government efforts to reduce unemployment within the sector.
NAHSAG said although the Ministry of Health had announced financial clearance for about 8,000 recruitments, the number represented less than eight per cent of the more than 105,000 unemployed health professionals reportedly awaiting posting nationwide.
“The question therefore remains: What becomes of the remaining thousands of qualified professionals who have patiently waited for years with hopes of serving their nation?” the statement said.
The association noted that many health facilities across the country continue to face workforce shortages despite the large number of unemployed graduates.
NAHSAG also criticised the recruitment portal, citing persistent technical failures, inaccessible slots and abrupt shutdowns shortly after the portal opened. According to the association, several applicants stayed awake through the night attempting to access the system, only to find opportunities exhausted within minutes.
It argued that recruitment into the health sector should not depend on internet speed, geographical location or technological advantage.
“Such a critical national exercise must be anchored on transparency, predictability, fairness and human dignity,” the association stated.
The group called on the Ministry of Health to adopt a more transparent and reliable recruitment system capable of accommodating the large number of applicants without chaos or exclusion.
NAHSAG further proposed that future recruitment exercises should prioritise applicants according to graduation year batches, beginning with those who have remained unemployed for the longest period.
The association said the previous batch-based recruitment approach was fairer and more predictable, arguing that graduates who completed school several years ago should not compete under the same conditions as recent graduates.
In addition, the association expressed strong dissatisfaction with the proposed community volunteer arrangement for qualified health professionals who may not secure recruitment.
NAHSAG argued that after years of academic training, clinical practice, licensure examinations and national service, health professionals deserved dignified employment rather than poorly compensated volunteer roles.
The association warned that prolonged reliance on unpaid or underpaid professional engagement could raise ethical, labour and professional concerns.
It also criticised what it described as inadequate communication from authorities, particularly the release of major clarifications less than 24 hours before the recruitment exercise ended.
“Effective communication is not merely a public relations tool; it is the oxygen of institutional trust,” the statement noted.
NAHSAG appealed to the government and the Ministry of Finance to increase financial clearance and expand recruitment numbers to absorb more health professionals into the public sector.
The association further cautioned that the current recruitment system could create opportunities for corruption, favouritism and exploitation if reforms are not introduced.
It reiterated its demand for the implementation of an automatic posting policy for health professionals, which it said had been promised in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto and publicly reaffirmed by the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
Despite its criticisms, NAHSAG said it remained committed to constructive dialogue with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the unemployment crisis facing health graduates.
“The future of Ghana’s healthcare system cannot be built on uncertainty, frustration and prolonged neglect of its young workforce,” the statement concluded.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
