A coalition of unpaid nurses and midwives under the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) is demanding the immediate payment of salary arrears after receiving only one month’s pay for nearly a year’s work.

The group says they worked continuously for 12 months across public health facilities but were paid for just a single month, a situation they describe as cruel and demoralising.

The group, accusing the health ministry of broken promises and selective payments, says the financial neglect is killing their morale and will undermine care for patients nationwide.

The Coalition, in a strongly worded statement, decried that its members worked day and night in hospitals, attending to emergencies, and “helping keep Ghana’s health system alive,” only to be paid with one month’s salary out of twelve.

According to the leader of the coalition, Stephen Takyiah, the payment falls short of what is owed and fails to reflect the sacrifices made by the frontline health workers.

The agitated group further disclosed that about 300 of its members did not receive even a single month’s salary, and their status remains unclear.

They fear the situation could worsen as the extended financial clearance for their employment is set to expire on December 31, 2025.

“The saddest part is that about 300 of our members did not receive even the one-month salary and their fate is not known, since the extended financial clearance expires on 31st December, 2025.

"Even more troubling is the fact that a portion of our colleagues, over 7,000 nurses and midwives who began receiving salaries in April 2025, have had all their arrears paid in full, while the rest of us, totalling 6,261, have been completely abandoned. Some of us were even validated to receive full arrears in November, but surprisingly, we were paid just a single month's salary. This deceptive action gave us nothing but heartbreak and shattered hope,” they said.

The unpaid nurses and midwives also accused the Ministry of Health of failing to honour its commitment to publish a clear payment plan after the November salary.

Describing the situation as unfair and inhumane, the group has warned that continued neglect of their concerns could have serious consequences for the health sector, as demoralised workers struggle to cope with financial hardship while still expected to deliver quality care.

The group has called on the government to immediately engage them, correct what they describe as misinformation, and ensure the full payment of all outstanding salary arrears.

“The Ministry of Health promised to release a payment plan after the November salary. Today, it has been weeks of complete silence. No roadmap, no timelines, no communication. Instead, what we have received is a misleading press release claiming that we have all been paid, when the reality on the ground is the exact opposite.

“We demand immediate communication from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance and full payment of our accumulated arrears. We demand fairness, transparency, and respect for our labour and our dignity. We have served Ghana faithfully. It is time for Ghana to do the same for us,” they said.