The Head of the Health Training Institutions Unit at the Ministry of Health, Tony Goodman, has announced a zero-tolerance policy against extortion in nursing admissions and recruitment, warning that anyone found engaging in fraudulent practices will face severe sanctions.
He said the Ministry has strengthened measures to protect the integrity of the admission process and is collaborating with law enforcement agencies to dismantle criminal syndicates that exploit prospective applicants.
Speaking in an exclusive interview in response to public concerns over alleged admission fraud, Mr. Goodman said the Ministry had introduced reforms to make the admission process more transparent and accessible.
According to him, one of the key interventions has been the introduction of an online application portal, allowing applicants to complete the admission process from the comfort of their homes without relying on intermediaries.
“The Honourable Minister for Health is interested in ensuring a proper and stress-free system. That is why we introduced the online portal where applicants can apply for nursing admissions using their mobile phones. He also ensured that trainee allowances are paid on time,” he said.
Mr. Goodman stressed that the Ministry has also tightened admission procedures to ensure that only qualified applicants gain entry into nursing training institutions.
“One of the things the Minister talked about was the credibility of our admissions. We wanted to eliminate situations where people claim they gained admission because they paid money. Every stage of the admission process is monitored by the Ministry, and no one can be admitted unless they meet the required qualifications. We cannot compromise on the quality of healthcare professionals who will eventually care for Ghanaians,” he said.
He disclosed that investigations conducted by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Ghana Police Service have led to the arrest of several suspected admission fraudsters, some of whom have already been arraigned before the courts.
According to him, the investigations will continue throughout the academic year as part of efforts to eliminate admission-related fraud.
Mr. Goodman cautioned prospective applicants and their families against paying bribes or dealing with middlemen, stressing that legitimate admissions do not require any form of financial inducement.
“We will continue to monitor the process. Anyone who goes beyond the rules we have set will face the consequences. The punishment must serve as a deterrent to others. We cannot have a banana republic. Everybody must obey the rules and regulations,” he stated.
He also urged heads of nursing training institutions to strictly comply with approved admission quotas, warning that institutions that admit students beyond their authorised intake risk sanctions.
According to him, enforcing approved admission numbers is necessary to maintain training standards and ensure that the number of graduates aligns with the country’s budgetary capacity.
“Sustaining these reforms will require enforcement. As we continue to punish offenders, others will be discouraged from engaging in similar practices. We will also continue to provide periodic training to ensure the gains we have made are maintained,” he added.
His comments come after the Ministry of Health received investigative reports into two principals of nursing training institutions who were interdicted over allegations of over-admissions and operating unauthorised academic programmes.
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