The Health Minister – Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has warned all doctors who refuse postings to rural areas to risk of being removed from government payroll by the end of February, 2026. He issued this caution on 20th February, 2026 during a working visit to the University of Ghana, College of Health Sciences at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
According to the Minister, often times, doctors who are been posted to rural communities to perform their daily duties or activities, usually rejects these offers; with majority of them being congested at the health centers in the urban communities, which is causing poor healthcare service delivery in some parts of Ghana. Again from the Minister, it has also been reported that some of these doctors claim the refusal on their part has to do with lack of social amenities and poor living conditions in the deprived communities, yet doctors refuse to assist government to develop these areas. He asked; how can the community develop if you the doctors we have, are refusing to report in these areas? As a result, he asserted that, developments can also seriously be undertaken in these rural areas as done in the urban centers, if doctors also assist government in going these areas to deliver their services to the needy patients; and must stop arguing that; its lack of social amenities stopping them to report in these rural areas.
Akandoh, also addressed that, these measures are part of efforts being made by the Ministry of Health to tackle ongoing shortage of health professionals in these rural communities; and that, the government is also determined in ensuring all members in every part of Ghana, receives equitable access to healthcare services without constraints. Moreover, he explained that despite several engagements and clear directives issued on these situations, some doctors particularly; the newly recruited doctors are still feeling reluctant and had refused to report in their assigned duty stations in these deprived communities, which is really disturbing, he fumed.
For that reason, he stated empathetically that, all doctors are aware or in the known that, before you embark on any health journey courses in various schools, the core principles and guidelines under health have clearly been outlined. So the excuses of not going to these rural areas are becoming inordinate and they have no choice than to adhere to these principles and ethical standards expected of every doctor under the health ministry.