The Ministry of Health is taking a decisive step to strengthen the capacity of nursing and midwifery education in Ghana.

Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh announced via Twitter on Friday, September 5, 2025, that the government will launch a new scholarship program specifically targeting tutors in nursing and midwifery training institutions.

The initiative confirms a commitment to provide at least 15 PhD scholarships starting this academic year. This move is aimed at tackling the critical shortage of highly qualified faculty members within the nation’s health training sector.

The shortage of doctoral-level faculty has been a long-standing challenge for Ghana’s nursing and midwifery schools.

Starting this year, the Government will provide at least 15 PhD scholarships specifically for nursing and midwifery tutors.

— Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (@KMAkandoh) September 5, 2025

The majority of instructors hold Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees, limiting the institutions’ capacity to undertake advanced research and publish high-level academic papers. This often impedes the schools from attaining higher accreditation status or fully integrating research into the curriculum.

By funding 15 PhD positions, the government seeks to achieve several key objectives:

Elevate Educational Standards: Doctors of Philosophy (PhDs) are essential for driving curriculum innovation and ensuring that training aligns with global best practices and emerging healthcare needs, such as non-communicable diseases and advanced primary care.

Foster Research Culture: The new scholars are expected to contribute original research relevant to Ghana’s public health challenges, thereby informing national health policy decisions.

Improve Accreditation Status: Increasing the number of PhD-holding tutors is critical for maintaining and enhancing the accreditation standing of nursing and midwifery training colleges (NMTCs) and university departments.

This scholarship program is viewed as a strategic investment in Ghana’s human capital development within the health sector.

The output of highly-trained nurses and midwives directly impacts the quality of healthcare delivery, particularly at the primary level.

The Ministry has yet to release specific details on the application process, selection criteria, and the institutions the scholars will be attending.

However, the announcement has been widely welcomed by the nursing and midwifery fraternity, who see it as a necessary governmental commitment to improving both the academic quality and the professional standing of these essential healthcare workers.

The scholarships are anticipated to be highly competitive, prioritizing candidates with a demonstrated commitment to research and service within Ghana's public health system.