The Coalition of Unemployed Allied Health Professionals Association of Ghana (COUAHP) is furious over the government’s failure to employ thousands of qualified health professionals who have remained jobless since 2019.

They include trained Medical Laboratory Scientists, Physiotherapists, Radiographers, Health Information Officers, Disease Control Officers, Community Mental Health Officers, Nutritionists, and Dietitians.

The aggrieved group is decrying what members describe as neglect and systematic discrimination, despite critical shortages in public health facilities.

The over 30,000 aggrieved youth demand immediate recruitment, transparent timelines, and a national policy to avert nationwide protests.

Medical Laboratory Professional Workers' Union (MELPWU) recently called on the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and other stakeholders to immediately address the long-standing delay in recruitment of allied health professionals.

Despite this call, the Coalition of Unemployed Allied Health Professionals Association of Ghana (COUAHP) has noticed the non-responsiveness and is demanding immediate posting.

Members of the coalition wrapped their heads and hands with red bands to register their displeasure for what they term as “injustice”.

The group says that despite fulfilling all professional requirements, their employment has lagged for over six years.

Public Relations Officer of the Coalition, Hussein Abdul-Baaki, is blaming the government for unfair demands for professional license renewal which has increased their financial hardship.

"Despite completing our mandatory national service, passing our licensure examinations, and remaining committed and ready to serve the nation, many of us have remained unemployed as far back as 2019. This is a disturbing reality in a country where public health facilities are plagued with chronic staff shortages, particularly in the areas of diagnostics, disease surveillance, rehabilitation, and health information management.

“Adding to the injustice, we are required by law to renew our professional licenses annually at a significant personal cost even though we are not employed and not permitted to practice. This is deeply unfair and further exacerbates the emotional, psychological, and financial hardship we are already burdened with,” he said.

The aggrieved unemployed professional group is demanding immediate recruitment and clear national intervention for sustainable employment terms that ensure regular employment for allied health graduates.

They announced that a delay in response to their plea will result in a nationwide protest.

“We demand immediate financial clearance and recruitment of all qualified but unemployed Allied Health professionals from 2019 to date. An end to recurring bureaucratic bottlenecks that frustrate the employment process. Clear timelines and full transparency from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance on recruitment plans.

“We need a comprehensive national policy for sustainable health workforce planning, equitable recruitment, and investment in human resources for health. Equal and fair treatment of Allied Health professionals in all health sector decisions. If no decisive action is taken to address this issue, we will embark on a massive nationwide demonstration to demand our right to employment, fairness, and dignity,” said Hussein.