A coalition representing over 7,000 nurses and midwives working in public health facilities across Ghana has staged a protest, demanding the immediate payment of eight months of salary arrears.

The health professionals, who have been without pay since January of this year, say they are facing severe economic hardship.

The group, calling itself the Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives, demonstrated today, highlighting the dire conditions they are working under.

According to the coalition, the government has failed to honour its financial obligations despite having granted them financial clearance, a key step in authorising their salaries.

In an interview, the Convener for the coalition, Stephen Kwadwo Takyiah, captured the emotional toll of the situation on the health workers.

He stated that they are "emotionally drained" from continuing to work with no assurances for their payment anytime soon.

This emotional and financial strain, the coalition argues, has plunged them into an "economic quagmire" where they are struggling to meet basic needs such as rent and transportation.

The demonstration shines a spotlight on a long-standing issue within the public sector, where newly employed professionals often endure prolonged delays in receiving their salaries.

For nurses and midwives, whose services are critical to the country’s healthcare delivery, these delays not only compromise their personal well-being but could also affect the quality of care provided to patients.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance have yet to issue a public statement regarding the protest or provide a timeline for the disbursement of the salary arrears.

The coalition has vowed to continue its push for payment, arguing that its dedication to its work should be met with timely and consistent compensation.