The Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives has expressed concern over the increasing migration of specialist nurses and midwives, warning that it threatens efforts to build a strong, self-sustaining healthcare workforce in Ghana.
The warning comes as the College celebrates a milestone: the induction of its first batch of fellows through formal examination.
Speaking to the media, Rector Dr Gloria Achempim-Ansong said that while the institution has made significant strides in training specialists, many are leaving the country for opportunities abroad.
“We have trained a lot of nurses who are making remarkable contributions in Ghana. But unfortunately, many have also travelled to Western countries seeking greener pastures,” she said.
Dr. Achempim-Ansong explained that the College, established under the Specialist Health Training and Implant Medicine Research Act, began formal specialist training in 2015 with just 30 residents and eight faculties.
“Today, the College has grown to over 1,400 residents, 22 faculties, and multiple programmes across nursing, midwifery, public health, and mental health,” she said.
Despite this growth, retaining trained specialists remains a major challenge.
She also highlighted serious infrastructure gaps, including the lack of a permanent office and the absence of a simulation centre for practical training.
“Residents need a simulation centre where they can practice before attending to actual patients. These facilities are critical to producing competent specialists,” she said.
Cost is another barrier. Dr. Achempim-Ansong noted that specialist education is expensive, and many trainees struggle to afford it. While government support, including plans to sponsor trainees through the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, is helping, she said more investment is needed.
“They plan to sponsor about 100 residents, but we need much more support,” she added, appealing to both government and private sector partners to invest in training and infrastructure.
President of GCNM, Prof Victoria Bam, highlighted the significance of inducting fellows by examination, describing it as a historic milestone.
“This is the first time we are graduating and inducting our fellows by examination,” she said, explaining that fellows represent the highest level of specialist training and are essential for teaching future specialists.
However, Prof. Bam cautioned that the number of specialists remains too low to meet national demand.
“Our goal is to ensure that everyone in Ghana has access to specialist healthcare. But without enough specialists, deployment to remote areas remains impossible,” she said.
She called on government and development partners to expand access to specialist education and support the College’s mission to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare workforce.
“We make this passionate appeal to help expand specialist education and services across the country,” Prof. Bam added..