Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said more than a dozen countries have formally expressed interest in recruiting Ghanaian health professionals, as the government moves to introduce a structured migration strategy aimed at addressing a growing backlog of unemployed health workers.

Speaking during the Government Accountability Series in Accra on July 18, Mr. Akandoh said the initiative is part of a broader effort to ease pressure on Ghana’s public health system, while offering international employment opportunities for qualified medical professionals.

“To complement government recruitment, we are exploring managed migration and private sector options,” the minister said. “Over 13 countries have now expressed interest in Ghanaian health workers, and we are formulating policies to ensure these benefits are fairly distributed to both our health system and our professionals.”

The government’s plan comes as thousands of trained health workers remain unemployed due to limited budgetary allocations for recruitment. The migration initiative, Mr.Akandoh stressed, would be regulated to prevent a domestic talent drain, and will include safeguards to ensure continuity in care within Ghana’s public health sector.

Mr. Akandoh added that the government is finalizing new Conditions of Service agreements with health worker unions to improve retention and welfare. He also highlighted ongoing investments in professional development, such as expanded training opportunities and incentives aimed at maintaining a skilled and motivated workforce.

“We are committed to creating multiple pathways for Ghanaian health professionals to thrive — whether through domestic employment or carefully managed external opportunities,” Akandoh said.

The initiative follows a similar model employed by countries like the Philippines and India, which have long supported managed migration frameworks that balance domestic healthcare needs with global demand for skilled labor.