The Government of Ghana will need approximately GH₵12 billion to recruit over 145,000 unemployed teachers and health professionals, according to Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem. The revelation highlights the growing financial pressure caused by rising unemployment in both the education and health sectors.

Speaking in an interview with Citi FM in Accra, Mr. Ampem explained that since 2019, Ghana has accumulated a backlog of 74,000 health professionals and 71,000 education professionals who are still awaiting government employment.

He noted that the Teacher Health Recruitment challenge has worsened due to limited fiscal space. “From 2010 till now, about 26,000 health professionals are trained each year, but only 13,000 get recruited annually. As a result, we now have about 74,000 unemployed health professionals waiting for placement,” he revealed.

The education sector mirrors this problem. Mr. Ampem stated that colleges of education and universities produce between 35,000 and 81,000 graduates annually, yet only a small number secure employment in public institutions.

“There are about 14,000 education graduates who remain unemployed each year, creating a total backlog of around 71,000,” he added.

According to him, resolving the Teacher Health Recruitment crisis will require a huge financial investment. “Recruiting all 74,000 health professionals would cost the state around GH₵6 billion annually, and employing the 71,000 education professionals would need another GH₵6 billion. This total of GH₵12 billion is only to clear the backlog,” he emphasized.

Mr. Ampem also acknowledged that over 12,000 workers who have been engaged by the government are still unpaid, adding that the Ministry of Finance is working to address their situation.