The Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf John, on Thursday, November 5, 2026, received the National Executives of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwivesβ Association (GRNMA), led by its National President, Mrs. Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, together with the Regional Executives, on a courtesy call at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) in Tamale.
The visit formed part of the Associationβs efforts to engage nurses, midwives and key stakeholders across the country to strengthen institutional relations, promote constructive engagement with regional leadership and provide a platform for discussions on issues of mutual interest concerning the nursing and midwifery profession and the delivery of quality healthcare services.
Speaking on behalf of the National and Regional Executives, Mrs. Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo expressed appreciation to the Regional Minister for the warm reception and hospitality extended to the delegation. She briefed the Minister on the purpose of the visit and reaffirmed the Associationβs commitment to strengthening its relationship with regional authorities and other stakeholders to advance the interests of nurses and midwives.
She acknowledged the significant role of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council in coordinating regional development and promoting the welfare of the people of the Northern Region, noting that effective collaboration between the Association and regional leadership was essential to addressing challenges confronting the health sector.
Mrs. Ofori-Ampofo, however, drew attention to some of the major challenges affecting healthcare delivery, particularly the shortage of health professionals in health facilities across the country, with nursing and midwifery personnel being among the most affected.
She attributed the increasing staffing gaps partly to the phenomenon of healthcare brain drain, characterised by the migration of trained and qualified nurses and midwives from Ghana to other countries in search of better employment opportunities and improved conditions of service.
According to her, the continued departure of experienced and newly qualified health professionals was placing considerable pressure on the existing workforce, increasing their workload and potentially affecting the quality and accessibility of healthcare services, particularly in underserved communities.
The GRNMA President therefore appealed to the Regional Minister, as the political and administrative head of the region and representative of the President, to lend his voice to calls for the recruitment of additional health professionals to address the growing staffing gaps in health facilities.
She emphasised the need for deliberate interventions to improve staffing levels, enhance the welfare of nurses and midwives and create an enabling working environment that would encourage health professionals to remain in the country and contribute to national development.
She further assured the Regional Minister of the Associationβs readiness to support government initiatives and collaborate with relevant stakeholders towards improving healthcare delivery and promoting the health and well-being of the people of the Northern Region.
In his response, the Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf John, on behalf of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, traditional authorities and the people of the region, welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation to the Association for the visit and its continued commitment to advancing healthcare delivery in the country.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment under the leadership of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama to prioritising healthcare as a critical component of national development, with particular emphasis on the provision of health infrastructure, improvement in the welfare of health professionals and expansion of access to quality healthcare services.
The Minister highlighted key government interventions, including the Free Primary Healthcare initiative and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCare, which are aimed at improving access to healthcare, strengthening the health system and providing support for people with critical health conditions.
He further disclosed that upon assuming office and appointing the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), President Mahama directed all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to construct at least two Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds annually, with residential accommodation for health personnel.
According to the Minister, the directive is intended to expand access to primary healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved communities, while providing decent accommodation for health workers to encourage their presence and effective service delivery at the community level.
Hon. Ali Adolf John assured the Association of the NRCCβs commitment to promoting the welfare of nurses and midwives and addressing challenges affecting healthcare delivery across the region. He noted that the Regional Coordinating Council would liaise with the various MMDAs to identify and address issues relating to the welfare of nurses and midwives, including their general conditions of service, accommodation and other concerns within the respective districts.
The Minister further emphasised that improving healthcare delivery required a collective effort involving government, health professionals, professional associations, traditional authorities and other relevant stakeholders. He therefore encouraged the Association to sustain its engagement with regional and district authorities and continue to work collaboratively with government towards building a responsive, efficient and accessible healthcare system.
The courtesy call provided an important platform for the National and Regional Executives of the GRNMA and the Northern Regional Coordinating Council to discuss critical issues affecting the nursing and midwifery profession, particularly healthcare workforce shortages, brain drain, staff welfare and the need to strengthen primary healthcare delivery.