Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, says the country’s health workforce has expanded significantly in recent years, with staffing levels more than tripling.
According to him, health worker density has improved from 16.5 to 41.9 per 10,000 population, while the combined density of doctors, nurses and midwives now stands at 82.75 per 10,000—above the World Health Organization benchmark.
Speaking at the 2026 Annual Health Summit in Accra, Mr Akandoh said the progress reflects sustained investment in human resources for health, stressing that a strong workforce remains key to improving healthcare delivery.
However, he acknowledged persistent challenges in the distribution of health personnel, noting that while many Ghanaians live in rural areas, a disproportionate number of health workers are still concentrated in urban centres.
He pointed out that regions such as Greater Accra and Ashanti continue to host the majority of doctors and pharmacists.
The Minister also expressed concern about ongoing migration pressures, with many health professionals reportedly seeking opportunities abroad.
He stressed that improving Ghana’s health system goes beyond training more professionals, calling for fair deployment, better motivation, and stronger retention measures.
“The goal of universal health coverage will not be achieved by increasing facilities alone but by building a workforce that can deliver quality care everywhere,” he said.