The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced sweeping reforms to transform nursing and midwifery education in Ghana, including plans to upgrade training colleges into degree-awarding institutions.

The move, he said, forms part of a broader strategy to build a highly skilled and responsive health workforce capable of meeting the country’s evolving healthcare demands.

Speaking at the inauguration of advisory boards for health training institutions, the Minister revealed that more than 40 nursing and midwifery colleges are set to begin offering degree programmes.

He explained that the transition will not only enhance professional standards but also align Ghana’s training systems with global best practices.

Mr. Akandoh further disclosed that specialised training programmes in critical areas such as oncology, emergency care, and intensive care nursing are being introduced to strengthen specialist service delivery across the health sector.

To improve the quality of teaching, he announced plans to support tutors with PhD scholarships, a move aimed at deepening academic expertise and strengthening institutional capacity.

The Minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to student welfare, citing the regular payment of trainee allowances and the implementation of the no-fee-stress policy as key interventions to ease the financial burden on students.

He urged the newly inaugurated advisory boards to provide effective leadership and oversight, stressing the need for accountability, excellence, and long-term institutional development to sustain the reforms and improve healthcare delivery nationwide.