The Graduate Unemployed Nurses and Midwives’ Association (GUNMA) has urged its members not to participate in the proposed voluntary service under the Free Primary Healthcare programme, describing the arrangement as undue pressure on unemployed professionals seeking permanent jobs.
The association said it was particularly concerned by information suggesting that nurses and midwives who participate in the voluntary exercise could be considered or given preference when government opens another recruitment exercise.
GUNMA argues that such an arrangement could make the service feel less voluntary, especially for qualified professionals who have remained unemployed for years and may fear that refusing to volunteer could affect their chances of securing employment later.
In a statement to its members, the association said unemployed nurses and midwives should not be placed in a position where they have to offer their professional services for free in the hope that doing so could improve their prospects of future employment.
The association stressed that its members have already spent years waiting for recruitment after completing their training and following the required processes.
“Now we deserve fair recruitment – not conditional voluntary service,” GUNMA said.
The association’s position comes after Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh announced that government was considering voluntary recruitment arrangements to provide additional support to health workers and facilities under the Free Primary Healthcare programme. The Ghana Health Service said at least 8,000 health workers had already been recruited, while the government was considering additional voluntary arrangements.
GUNMA also referred to President John Dramani Mahama’s announcement in July that government would recruit 16,000 nurses in two phases of 8,000 each to strengthen the healthcare workforce.
The association said members are therefore expecting the government to honour its recruitment commitments rather than rely on voluntary service as an alternative to formal employment.
It further noted that a significant number of qualified nurses and midwives remain unemployed despite the recruitment exercises undertaken so far. The Ministry of Health previously acknowledged a large backlog of unemployed health professionals, with more than 105,000 records reportedly captured during an earlier recruitment process.
GUNMA said its members are not opposed to supporting the Free Primary Healthcare programme or serving communities. Its concern, it stressed, is the possibility of voluntary service becoming a condition, either directly or indirectly, for future employment.
The association is therefore calling for clear assurances on recruitment before members take part in the voluntary exercise.
Its position is that recruitment should be based on transparent, fair and equitable processes rather than participation in an unpaid service programme.
GUNMA has consequently urged all its members to remain united, calm and resolute while it seeks clarification from the relevant authorities.
