The association says many qualified technicians have been left idling as dispensing and pharmacy units in public hospitals remain critically short-staffed.

They are requesting that the government sets aside a budget to accommodate the professionals to improve healthcare delivery.

Acting President of the Pharmacy Technicians Association of Ghana, Richard Botwe, highlighted the impacts of the delayed deployment on the livelihoods of new graduates.

Speaking at its annual conference, he emphasised that the Ministry of Finance should establish a clear and accelerated timetable for the financial clearance and placement of pharmacy technicians to support the health sector.

The 16th Annual general conference of the Pharmacy Technician Association of Ghana assembled members across Ghana in forging ahead to improve the mandates of members.

“The persistent delay in government financial clearance for newly graduated technicians is unacceptable. Qualified professionals are left idle while the health sector remains critically short-staffed,” he noted.

The conference was held on the theme: “Transforming Pharmacy Technicians’ Education and Practice in Ghana, 50 years of Innovation, Excellence and Impact”.

Mr. Botwe advocated the active involvement of association members to significantly reduce drug abuse among the youth in Ghana.

The health professionals cited concerns over the threats illegal mining poses to pharmaceutical production and infusion services.

Dr Emmanuel Owusu Owiafe is the National Chairman of the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA).

He noted an increase in the number of patients suffering from kidney and liver diseases, which has become a serious problem for the country.

In light of this, the association is urgently calling on the government to take swift action against illegal mining.

Dr. Owiafe also mentioned that illegal mining makes it difficult for pharmaceutical companies to access quality water for infusions.

Source: David Opoku

Speaking to the media in Accra on Monday, Mr Akandoh announced that the Ministry of Health had secured financial clearance for the payment of 17,909 nurses, midwives, and allied health interns who began their national service in early 2024.

He further revealed that clearance has also been renewed for 13,500 nurses and midwives who were recruited and posted in late 2024, after the initial authorization was set to expire on December 31, 2024.

“Financial clearance has been secured for the payment of the 17,909 nurses, midwives, and allied health interns who started their national service in early 2024, as well as for the 13,500 health professionals recruited late last year,” he confirmed.

The Minister assured all affected personnel that the government remains committed to resolving inherited salary arrears and to strengthening administrative systems to avoid similar challenges in the future.

“The Ministry is implementing measures as part of a broader effort to strengthen Ghana’s health system and safeguard the welfare of its workforce,” he stated.

Mr Akandoh also urged health workers to remain calm and continue serving the public diligently, advising them to channel any outstanding concerns through the appropriate authorities for prompt attention.

Source: AdomOnline

READ ALSO:

• Whoever wins NPP flagbearership will suffer defeat in 2028 – Berekum West MP
• Vulnerable Aid Organization constructs 3-unit classroom for Breweniase R.C. JHS
• GNFS denies claims of responding to fires with empty tenders

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday, February 24, 2025, Gyapong stated, “If you don’t have financial clearance, it means you have not been budgeted for, and the government doesn’t have a provision for your salary.”

He explained that the recruitment process has evolved significantly from the past when newly employed health workers could wait up to a year before being added to the payroll.

“That is what has changed from the previous recruitment process, where you go to work, and it takes a bit of time, like six months, one year, before they are put on a payroll. At the moment, you are given financial clearance. It means you have been budgeted for,” he elaborated.

Addressing recent concerns, Gyapong confirmed that the Association is aware of financial clearance for 15,200 health professionals.

“The 15,200 which we are aware of have financial clearance. I don’t know of any outside recruitment. There is no recruitment outside of that that we are aware of,” he said.

When asked about the possibility of a strike, he clarified that the Association’s earlier comments were meant as guidance, not a threat.

“I think we cautioned the government on its directive—we were giving them advice, let me put it that way,” he said.

He expressed concern over the fate of nurses and midwives who have waited years after training but risk being laid off if bureaucratic processes aren’t completed promptly.

“If nurses and midwives, who are also the youth of this country, who have stayed on for four to five years post-training, are laid off based on the fact that maybe their financial clearance process didn’t complete before a certain period, it will be very unfair to do that,” he emphasized.

Reassuring health workers, Gyapong noted that the Ministry of Health has pledged to follow proper procedures.

“The ministry has made us aware that they are going to stick to the directives based on the emphasis they laid—those who went through due process and were given financial clearance are not supposed to go home,” he stated.

ALSO READ:

• I’m not for mass sacking, but I appreciate the logic behind it – Theo…
• Our experienced nurses are leaving for greener pastures abroad and it’s worrying – Head…

• We’ll strike if newly recruited nurses are affected – GRNMA on mass dismissal 

This move aims to ease the current academic workload and facilitate the prompt resumption of academic activities.

GTEC’s action comes in response to a nationwide strike initiated by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) on June 14, due to the government’s failure to implement agreed-upon arbitral awards and other service conditions.

Once the financial clearance is approved, GTEC will promptly announce the recruitment process to ensure the new staff can be deployed in a timely manner.

They have called on GES to open the recruitment portal by the first week of March to enable them leverage the skills and knowledge invested in their training by the state.

The urgent call stems from the impending expiration of licenses issued to them by the National Teaching Council (NTC) in 2025, yet are still unemployed.

The Coalition of Unemployed Trained Teachers in a statement on February 21, also called on the Ministry of Finance to provide them financial clearance.

“We, therefore, call on the Ministry of Finance to grant us financial clearance and the Ministry of Education as well as the Ghana Education Service to expedite actions by opening the Portal for us to be recruited by the first week of March so that the skills, knowledge, competencies and the resources the state has invested in training us do not go in vain” the statement added.

Find release below: