By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Bolgatanga, Jan. 22, GNA – The Coalition of NGOs in Health has backed the government’s policy directive instructing the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department not to process the salaries of health workers whose inputs are not submitted from their officially assigned regions.
The Coalition described the move by the Ministry of Health as a critical step towards improving accountability in the health sector and ensuring that officers are at their assigned posts and offering services.
This was contained in a statement signed and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga by Mr Thomas Abagmbire Aduah, the Upper East Regional Vice Chairman of the Coalition, and Mr Patrick Anamoo, the Regional Secretary.
The Coalition said the directive had become necessary amid the persistent refusal of some medical doctors to accept postings to the Upper East Region, which continues to grapple with a severe shortage of health professionals.
“The Coalition believes this policy, when fully implemented, will significantly address operational challenges and improve accountability in the health sector,” the statement said.
The Coalition noted that the Upper East Region, with a population of 1,301,226 according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, remains one of the most deprived regions in the country in terms of healthcare delivery.
“As of 2022, the doctor-to-population ratio stood at about 1:24,124, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of 1:1,000,” it added.
The statement recalled that the Coalition and residents of the region warmly welcomed the Ministry of Health’s December 2025 announcement on the posting of 26 medical doctors to the region.
It said, however, that engagements with the Upper East Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service revealed that as of the first week of January 2026, only five of the doctors had reported and commenced duty.
“According to the Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, one doctor had formally accepted the posting but was yet to report, while another had accepted posting to the Paga District Hospital. The remaining 20 doctors had neither reported nor formally accepted their postings,” it said.
The Coalition said further discussions showed that some of the doctors were only willing to accept postings if assigned to the Regional Hospitals.
It disclosed that the Directorate had agreed to post them to the Regional Hospital to absorb them into the system, adding that the facility currently had 55 medical doctors, 18 of whom were pursuing further studies.
The statement further revealed that the Coalition gathered that security concerns, particularly the Bawku conflict, had emerged as a major reason cited by some medical officers, who feared for their personal safety.
The statement assured newly posted doctors that the Upper East Region was largely safe and steadily returning to normalcy, stressing that the health and well-being of residents remained a top priority, and appealed to all stakeholders to work collectively towards peace and stability in the region.
The statement further praised the Regional and District Health Directorates for their readiness to receive medical officers, noting that many districts provide furnished accommodation, monthly allowances, study leave opportunities and other incentives to attract and retain staff.
It, however, raised concerns about persistent interference in the posting and distribution of other health workers, particularly nurses and midwives, saying undue lobbying continues to undermine equitable workforce distribution in the region.
The statement also called on the public to improve health-seeking behaviour, warning that delayed reporting to health facilities and home nursing of serious conditions are contributing to poor health outcomes, including rising maternal mortality in the region.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Linda Asante Agyei
