Ghana will introduce admission quotas for all public and private nursing and midwifery training colleges because the country trains far more nurses than it can employ. Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said Ghana admits 50,000 to 60,000 nursing and midwifery trainees a year but recruits only about 10,000 graduates. “What it means is that the backlog can only increase,” he said, as reported by 3News on 4 November 2026.
The numbers
- 50,000–60,000 nursing and midwifery trainees admitted each year
- About 10,000 graduates recruited into the health service each year
- Over 107,000 trained nurses at home, from four batches across 94 training institutions (Ministry of Health figure from August)
- About 40,000: the minister’s target for the backlog before admissions grow again
What the government plans
- Quotas tied to capacity: each college’s intake will be linked to its lecturers, classrooms and practical training places.
- Action on over-admission: the minister suspended the principals of Nalerigu Nurses and Midwifery Training College and Nkanchina College of Nursing over alleged over-admission. Nalerigu was allocated about 750 places but admitted 2,500.
- Two recruitment exercises a year, with the 2022 batch to be hired before the end of 2026 and 2023 graduates to follow once the Finance Ministry clears funding.
What nurses’ groups say
The 2021 Cohort of Unemployed Nurses Association says only about 6,500 of 18,000 graduates from 2021 have been posted. The Unemployed Nurses and Midwives Association wants admissions paused until jobs can be guaranteed. The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) says several allowances under its collective agreement are still owed and has warned of another strike if talks fail.
What this means for you
- If you are applying to nursing school in Ghana: expect fewer places and more competition, especially in colleges that over-admitted. Apply early and to more than one college.
- If you are a trained nurse waiting for posting: keep your licence active, collect CPD points and consider bilateral programmes. Ghana’s labour agreements with the US Virgin Islands, Columbus (Ohio), Grenada and Antigua are one route.
- If you are thinking about working abroad: verify any recruiter before paying. Many fake agencies target unemployed nurses.
Frequently asked questions
How many unemployed nurses are in Ghana?
The Ministry of Health said in August 2026 that over 107,000 trained nurses were at home awaiting posting.
Will Ghana stop admitting nursing students?
No. The plan is to cap admissions according to each college’s capacity, not to stop admissions.
When will the 2022 batch be posted?
The minister said the 2022 batch should be recruited before the end of 2026.
Related reading: Ghana’s nurse labour exchange deals explained · N&MC Ghana licensing and PIN renewal guide · 12 red flags of fake recruitment agencies
Source: 3News.