Ghana News

‘It’s a Timebomb’: Ghana Confronts a Growing Exodus of Nurses to the West

Published

4 months ago

December 17, 2025

Ghana’s healthcare system is facing mounting strain as thousands of nurses and other medical professionals leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad, raising fears of a looming workforce crisis.

The situation was detailed in a recent report by The Guardian, which highlights how the steady outflow of trained nurses has accelerated since the Covid-19 pandemic.

At overstretched hospitals in Accra, nursing officer Bright Ansah says absent colleagues are no longer a mystery.

“When you see ‘In God we trust’ on their WhatsApp status, that’s when you know they’re already in the US,” he told The Guardian. The phrase—borrowed from the US national motto—has become shorthand among Ghanaian nurses for a long-planned departure to Western healthcare systems seen as better resourced and more rewarding.

According to estimates cited in the report, at least 6,000 nurses left Ghana in 2024 alone, driven by low wages, delayed salaries, burnout and deteriorating infrastructure. While the United States remains the top destination, Ghanaian nurses are also relocating to the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.

At the same time, the government has pursued bilateral agreements to send nurses abroad. In May and October, Ghana signed deals with Jamaica and Grenada, expanding on an earlier 2019 agreement with Barbados. By July, the health minister announced that more than 13 countries had expressed interest in similar recruitment arrangements. Officials argue Ghana has a surplus of nurses, pointing to tens of thousands who remain unemployed.

Yet Ghana is also listed among 55 countries on the World Health Organization’s support and safeguard list, identifying nations facing serious health workforce challenges. For those on the frontline, the contradiction is alarming.

“It’s a timebomb,” Ansah warned.

With a population of about 35 million and a wide nurse-to-patient ratio, he says staff are already overburdened and burned out. “Yet the government wants to export its most experienced nurses to a place like Grenada, which has a population of about 125,000.”

Nursing has long been viewed as a stable and respected profession in Ghana, particularly in an economy where secure jobs are scarce. In recent years, it has also become a pathway to migration, attracting new entrants hoping for opportunities abroad—though international recruitment schemes typically target experienced professionals.

The Guardian report profiles nurses making different choices. Ansah, 36, has chosen to stay. Despite calling his average monthly salary of GH¢3,000 “demoralising,” he believes his work still matters. With a PhD in public health, he combines nursing with university teaching and runs a healthcare consultancy.

“If we all leave, who will look after our mothers and fathers when they need medical care?” he asked.

Others see no viable alternative but to go. Nana Yaa Mills, a 39-year-old ICU nurse and mother of three, is relocating permanently to the US after 12 years in Accra hospitals. Of the 15 nurses she started work with in 2017, she says only three remain in Ghana.

“The majority have gone to the US. Three are in the UK, and one is in Ireland,” she said.

Health experts warn that unless pay, working conditions and career prospects improve, Ghana risks losing not just numbers, but experience and institutional memory. Even among those leaving, many express a desire to return and contribute to nation-building—if conditions allow.

As Ansah put it: “We have to do better.”

For a country training nurses at scale while struggling to keep them, the challenge is no longer hypothetical. It is unfolding in real time, ward by ward.

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Ghana News

US Requires Ghanaian Visa Applicants to Make All Social Media Profiles ‘Public’ for Vetting

Published

12 hours ago

April 21, 2026

GNG Staff

Accra, Ghana – Ghanaians applying for various categories of US visas must now make all their social media accounts public, the United States Embassy has announced in a new requirement that is being rolled out globally.

The policy, which took effect immediately, affects a wide range of non-immigrant visas including A-3, C-3, G-5, H-3, H-4 (dependents), K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, and U visas. Applicants are required to adjust the privacy settings of platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn, and others to “public” to allow US consular officers to review their online activity as part of the security and admissibility vetting process.

The move is designed to help establish the applicant’s true identity, intentions, and potential security risks before granting entry into the United States. While the directive was first highlighted by the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, it is now being implemented at US embassies and consulates worldwide, including in Ghana.

Bawumia Accuses Mahama Govt of Attacking Democracy, Otumfuo Warns Politicians and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today

Implications for Ghanaian Applicants

For many Ghanaians seeking to visit, study, work, or join family members in America, the new rule adds another layer of scrutiny to the already rigorous US visa application process.

Privacy-conscious applicants may need to temporarily adjust or archive private content before submitting their applications.

US visa officials will now have broader access to posts, comments, photos, friends lists, and online associations.

This development comes amid heightened global security concerns and reflects the Trump administration’s continued emphasis on stricter immigration vetting. Ghanaian travellers are advised to review their social media presence carefully and ensure consistency between their online profiles and visa application details to avoid delays or refusals.

Ghana News

Bawumia Accuses Mahama Govt of Attacking Democracy, Otumfuo Warns Politicians and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today

Published

12 hours ago

April 21, 2026

GNG Staff

We have curated the most relevant stories in Ghana today to keep you informed.

Bawumia Claims Ghana’s Democracy Under Attack and Free Speech Sacrificed Under Mahama Govt
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has strongly accused President John Dramani Mahama’s government of undermining Ghana’s democratic credentials by suppressing free speech and using state security agencies to intimidate political opponents. Speaking on April 18, 2026, during a visit by Bono Region NPP executives, Bawumia described the situation as a threat to the country’s democratic gains and urged party members to remain outspoken. The former Vice President’s comments followed the arrest and detention of NPP member Abubakar Yakubu (Baba Amando), with the party planning a major demonstration in Sunyani on April 22 under the theme “Yensuro Ahunahuna Demo” to protest what it calls attacks on free speech.
Read the full story here

Akonta Mining: Court Gives Wontumi Final Chance to File Witness Statement
The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court has granted Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) a final opportunity to file his witness statements in the Akonta Mining illegal mining case. Justice Audrey Kocouvi-Tey set May 5, 2026, as the new deadline after Wontumi missed the previous April 14 cut-off. The ruling came during a case management conference on April 20, despite defence requests for adjournment pending an appeal. Wontumi faces charges related to unauthorised mining activities on his concession in Samreboi.
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BOST to Lose GH¢40m from Suspended Fuel Margins – Deputy MD
The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) stands to lose nearly GH¢40 million in April alone due to the government’s suspension of the BOST margin on diesel. Deputy Managing Director Nat Salifu Acheampong warned that the move threatens critical infrastructure projects, including the upgrade of the Accra-Akosombo pipeline from 6 inches to 12 inches. While the margin on petrol remains, he appealed to Parliament to restore the diesel margin once the current fuel price relief measures end, stressing that the funds support national strategic fuel reserves.
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Power is Transient – Otumfuo Warns Politicians to Stay Out of Chieftaincy Matters
Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has cautioned politicians to refrain from interfering in chieftaincy affairs, reminding them that power is transient. The warning, delivered at the Asanteman Council meeting, underscores the Asantehene’s firm stance on preserving the independence and integrity of traditional institutions from political influence.
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‘You Are All Thieves!’ – Woman Slams Methodist Pastors and Elders Over Tithe Policy
A female member of the Wesley Cathedral Methodist Church in Sunyani caused a stir when she publicly described the pastor and elders as “thieves” during a church service. She criticised an alleged policy tying welfare support (especially during funerals) to tithe payment, arguing it was unfair and discouraging membership. The dramatic confrontation, which has gone viral, has sparked widespread debate on church finances and member support.
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Explainer: Why Asantehene Destooled Kyeame Kofi Nti
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has destooled his linguist (Kyeame) Kofi Nti following deliberations by the Asanteman Council. The removal was based on serious allegations including doubts over his royal lineage, improper handling and failure to report invocations of the sacred Otumfuo Ntam Kɛseɛ oath, and interference in chieftaincy processes. The decision highlights the high standards of accountability expected in Asante traditional offices.
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GES Announces Instalment Plan to Clear Teachers’ Salary Arrears
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has revealed that the government will pay outstanding salary arrears to newly recruited teachers under the 2024 financial clearance in instalments from May to August 2026. Four months’ arrears will be disbursed monthly to ensure accuracy and transparency. The move brings relief to teachers whose payments were delayed after reporting to post.
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