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.
The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate has confirmed 24 cases of mpox across 12 districts, with Kumasi recording the highest number of infections.
Dr Fred Adomako-Boateng, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, confirmed this in an interview with Luv FM, saying the Kumasi Metropolitan area leads with six cases, representing a quarter of the regional total.
He explained the severity of the outbreak: “The case fatality rate for most of the average of Mpox is normally around 11%. But if you look at the current outbreak that we are dealing with in the country and the period we are talking about, we are looking at 1/409, which will give a percentage of 0.24. You can’t say 0.24 person dying, but it means that it’s really not fatal as compared to the other cases that we know.”
On the regional spread, he added: “For example, in the Ashanti Region, we initially for a long time didn’t even record a case. Currently, the total number of cases that we have recorded in the region is 24, which is almost about 5% of the total cases that we are talking about. You look at the districts that have been affected, we are talking about 12 districts, which is about 27% of the 43 districts in the region. Currently, the leading district, as it’s implied, is Kumasi, having about six cases, which is about 25% of the cases that we have.”
Dr Adomako-Boateng also noted that none of the cases are currently admitted: “Our first two cases were really recorded in Old Tafo about two months ago, and they have been discharged and are doing well,” he said.
Meanwhile, a significant surge in mpox cases has been recorded, bringing the total number of confirmed infections nationwide to over 400.
According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), 37 new cases were recorded as of August 14, 2025, raising the cumulative total to 409.
The GHS also reported that two cases are currently on admission, emphasising the ongoing threat posed by the viral disease.
The Ghana Health Service issued an urgent public health update to inform the public of the new figures and to reinforce essential safety precautions.
The update comes amid a broader continental resurgence of the disease, which prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to renew its “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” declaration in August 2024.
Protecting Yourself and Others
The GHS continues to stress that Mpox spreads mainly through close physical contact with an infected person. In light of the recent surge, the Service’s recommendations for public safety include:
Avoiding close contact with infected persons, especially those with visible rashes.
Washing hands often with soap and water to prevent the spread of the virus.
Avoiding regular touching of your eyes, nose, and mouth, which can be entry points for the virus.
The GHS urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility for prompt diagnosis and management. Symptoms of Mpox include fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and a characteristic skin rash that can be painful.
National and Global Context
This latest surge is part of a worrying trend observed in Ghana throughout 2025. The country recorded its first Mpox-related death in July 2025, a sobering moment that highlighted the seriousness of the outbreak.
Reports from international health bodies show that Ghana’s case numbers have been rapidly escalating, contributing to a broader surge across Africa, particularly in Central and West Africa.
The GHS and other national health authorities are intensifying surveillance, contact tracing, and public education efforts to contain the spread and prevent further fatalities.
LUV 99.5 FM, in collaboration with the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Blood Bank, has organised a successful blood donation exercise at the LUV–NHYIRA FM premises in Kumasi.
The initiative, held under the theme “Donate a Pint of Blood to Save a Dying Soul,” sought to mobilise residents to support the urgent need for blood to save lives.
Close to 200 pints of blood were collected from voluntary donors in the exercise.
Authorities at the Komfo Anokye Blood Bank commended the gesture, emphasising that blood remains a critical resource in saving accident victims, mothers in childbirth, and patients undergoing surgery.
“So far, it has been one of the successful blood drives seen. The number of people who trooped here in the morning juxtaposes how LUV FM, Multimedia, is where you can reach. I would like to appeal to the public that blood donation is nothing to be afraid of.
“Blood is life and the need for blood is constant, so I will advise that people enrol anytime we campaign for blood because we need a regular blood supply to save mothers who are going to give birth, accident victims and people who are awaiting before we can do surgery. A lot of people need blood, and without people voluntarily donating, we can not get this blood,” explained Christian Oppong Mensah, Head of Recruitment at Komfo Anokye Blood Bank.
Management of LUV FM expressed their gratitude to the donors and sponsors for their selfless act and encouraged the public to cultivate the habit of regular blood donation to help save lives.
Speaking on behalf of LUV FM, Mr. Eric Inkoom expressed his satisfaction and gratitude.
“We started this blood donation campaign some two decades ago, and each edition has been successful. Today, we brought in institutions, tertiary and senior high schools, to support that course. Komfo Anokye Blood Bank is always in need of blood. The report we had over the period was not encouraging, so we had to bring together the people of Kumasi and Ashanti to donate a pint of blood to restock the Komfo Anokye Blood Bank.
“That is why we organised the donation today, together with our sponsors, bringing the people of Kumasi to show love. The program has been a success,” he said.
Mr Elvis, well known as “Ante Naa”, a regular blood donor and advocate, called on the government through the Ministry of Health to set a National Blood Donation Day due to the high demand for blood in the various health facilities and how lives are lost because of its absence.
The program was made possible by the help and sponsorship of St. Ben Jewelry, Newshorn Dental Consult, A.B.A. Herbal Centre, Dentoral Charcoal Toothpaste & Alive Toothbrushes, Precise Specialist Clinic LTD, Jackson University College, Robert And Sons’ Optical Services, Premium Foods, COA Mixture, COA Plus Mixture & COA – MT Mixture, Arash Motors LTD and Nassk Scientific Herbal And Research Clinic LTD
This exercise, which started as far back as 1999, adds to a series of community support initiatives championed by LUV 99.5 FM to promote health and well-being in the Ashanti Region.
A significant surge in Mpox cases has been recorded, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to over 400.
According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), 37 new cases were recorded as of August 14, 2025, raising the cumulative total to 409.
The GHS also reported that two cases are currently on admission, emphasising the ongoing threat posed by the viral disease.
The Ghana Health Service issued an urgent public health update to inform the public of the new figures and to reinforce essential safety precautions.
The update comes amid a broader continental resurgence of the disease, which prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to renew its “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” declaration in August 2024.
Protecting Yourself and Others
The GHS continues to stress that Mpox spreads mainly through close physical contact with an infected person. In light of the recent surge, the Service’s recommendations for public safety include:
Avoiding close contact with infected persons, especially those with visible rashes.
Washing hands often with soap and water to prevent the spread of the virus.
Avoiding regular touching of your eyes, nose, and mouth, which can be entry points for the virus.
The GHS urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility for prompt diagnosis and management. Symptoms of Mpox include fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and a characteristic skin rash that can be painful.
National and Global Context
This latest surge is part of a worrying trend observed in Ghana throughout 2025. The country recorded its first Mpox-related death in July 2025, a sobering moment that highlighted the seriousness of the outbreak.
Reports from international health bodies show that Ghana’s case numbers have been rapidly escalating, contributing to a broader surge across Africa, particularly in Central and West Africa.
The GHS and other national health authorities are intensifying surveillance, contact tracing, and public education efforts to contain the spread and prevent further fatalities.
Bullying in Ghana’s schools often goes unnoticed, yet its impact on students’ mental health is profound, leaving lasting scars on victims.
Determined to address this, the Africa Health Promotion Organisation (AfricaHPO), in partnership with the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ghana Education Service (GES), has launched its first anti-bullying and mental health initiative across 12 schools in six regions.
The maiden event, held at Labone Senior High School, seeks to challenge harmful behaviours and foster empathy among students.
As many studies identify socioeconomic imbalances, cultural norms, family backgrounds, media influence, peer pressure, and weak school policies as key drivers of bullying, which often manifests as emotional, verbal, physical, or cyber abuse, the time to take action is now.
Speaking to JoyNews, AfricaHPO Executive Director, Kisses Johnson Ahortor, explained that the campaign will extend to senior high schools in all six targeted regions.
He described the campaign as a unique approach in transforming former bullies into peer educators and advocates as a way to tackle the problem at its roots.
“Bullying involves three actors: the perpetrator, the victim, and the bystander. Our innovation is to have the perpetrators themselves lead the advocacy, rather than recruiting only well-behaved students,” he said.
Mr Ahortor also called on more partners to join the effort to ensure sustainable impact and a zero-tolerance culture toward bullying.
GES Regional Guidance and Counselling Coordinator, Madam Love Amponsah, outlined plans to reduce the workload on school counsellors through a decentralised system offering psychosocial, academic, and career counselling.
She noted that support now comes from across the school community, including security staff, to help curb bullying.
“Most secondary schools have professional counsellors, but heavy workloads limit their time with students. Under a new framework that covers psychosocial, academic and career counselling, support comes from across the school community, and even security staff are involved so that bullying can be curbed. She also urged parents to instil good behaviour in their children, stressing that “charity begins at home.”
Labone SHS Head Prefect Richmond Blankson praised AfricaHPO for launching the programme in his school and pledged to champion a zero-bullying culture among students.
With its focus on empathy, peer advocacy, and decentralised mental health support, the initiative marks a bold step toward eradicating bullying and safeguarding the well-being of Ghana’s students.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, says President Bola Tinubu’s renewed Hope Agenda has made the treatment of cancer possible in the country.
Idris stated this when he and his team paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Enugu State, Mr Peter Mbah, on Thursday in Enugu.
He said that all the information structures of the Federal Government were brought to Enugu to see and report the positive efforts of Tinubu and Mbah.
According to him, Tinubu has done so well that one will wonder if he is on his second term.
Idris also said that he had noticed what Mbah had done in the state, describing Enugu as the heart of the South-East.
“We have seen what the governor has done, from the policies and programmes of his predecessor.
“Also, we are here to show that President Tinubu is working and to see what his policies and programmes are achieving positively across the region.
“Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, in policies and programmes, has revolutionised the health sector so that treatment of cancer can now be done here in Nigeria.
“There are six treatment facilities in the six zones of the country, including Enugu, with similar machines found in other parts of the world, and experts have been trained to handle them.
“So, anyone who wants to go out of the country to treat cancer is doing so based on choice, and not because we don’t have facilities and experts to treat the person.
“We must give credit to President Tinubu for the people he put in place to revamp the health sector,” he said.
The minister further explained that Tinubu had made it possible for security agencies to synergise and achieve results, hence the improved security situation that the country is currently witnessing.
He, however, said that it was not yet over, adding that the president would continue to do more for the country to address all the challenges. (NAN)
Sustainable Health Education and Interventions Limited (SHEILD), a Ghanaian non-governmental organisation, has extended its heartfelt condolences to the families of the eight officials who tragically died in a military helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.
The NGO’s statement emphasises the immense national loss and highlights the victims’ dedication to public service.
The crash, which occurred in the Ashanti Region, has been a significant source of national grief, claiming the lives of high-ranking officials and military personnel.
Among the deceased were Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, who were key figures in the government’s fight against illegal mining, or ‘galamsey’.
The crash also claimed the lives of Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, NDC Vice Chairman Dr. Samuel Sarpong, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, and three Ghana Air Force crew members: Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
In a tribute by board members comprising Dr Sylvia Anie, Ing Enoch Opoku-Gyimah, Dr John Nkrumah Mills, Mr Francis Gariba, Mr Samuel Nyampong, Mr David Ofori and Dr Clement Agoni, SHEILD, which focuses on public health and well-being, acknowledged the gravity of the incident.
“As an organisation dedicated to the health and well-being of Ghanaians, we are deeply saddened by this immeasurable loss,” the statement read.
The NGO praised the victims for their patriotism and commitment to serving the nation, referring to their sacrifice as a testament to their dedication.
“Their dedication and sacrifice will forever be a testament to their patriotism,” the statement said.
The message concludes with a call for national solidarity, praying for the bereaved families to find strength and comfort during this period of mourning.
The incident and the subsequent national outpouring of grief underscore the profound impact of the loss on all sectors of Ghanaian society.
Vitamin supplements can be an efficient way to add vitamins lacking in our diet. But they’re not a silver bullet.
The market for vitamin and mineral supplements is estimated to be worth $32.7bn (£24.2bn), and over 74% of Americans and two-thirds of Britons admit to using them in an effort to improve their health.
However, the pills are mired in controversy, with some studies suggesting they have no discernible health benefits, and others finding they could even harm you. So what does the evidence really say? Should we all be taking vitamin supplements, or just some of us? Does anyone even need to take them?
Why do people take vitamins and minerals?
Vitamins and minerals are compounds that our bodies do not make, but which are nevertheless essential for our health. As we cannot make them, we must get them from our food. Examples include vitamin A; which is vital for good eyesight and maintaining healthy skin; vitamin C, which is essential for a healthy immune system, and vitamin K; which is necessary for blood clotting. Essential minerals, meanwhile, include calcium, magnesium, selenium, potassium, and others. Vitamins and minerals are classed as micronutrients because we only need them in small amounts compared to macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
It’s fair to say that no supplement will ever replace a healthy and balanced diet. The best way, therefore, of meeting the body’s requirement for vitamins is through eating plenty of leafy green vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, dairy, and fish. However, research also shows that many of us are not managing to adhere to this practice. The rise of fast food, along with ultra-processed products, means convenience often triumphs over a fresh home-cooked meal.
“The average American is eating half of the fruits and vegetables that are recommended,” says Bess Dawson-Hughes, a senior scientist at the US Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, and professor of medicine at Tufts University. “So if you’re leaning in that direction, then you are probably missing out on some essential nutrients.”
Could multivitamins help fill this nutritional gap? The answer, as you might expect, is complicated. The theory that dosing up on vitamin C could help stave off the common cold spread across the Western world in the 1970s, thanks to people like Linus Pauling, a Nobel prize-winning chemist who claimed that taking up to 50 times the recommended dose of vitamin C could treat anything from influenza, to cardiovascular diseases, cataracts, and even cancer. Although the notion that overdosing on vitamin C could cure the cold has been thoroughly debunked, many still cling to this belief.
Fast forward to today, and influencers are pushing supplements that contain up to 500% or even 1,000% the recommended daily allowance of micronutrients, despite the fact that vitamin supplements in general lack regulation, contain unlisted ingredients, and are not backed up by randomised controlled trials – the gold standard of medical research.
“Mega-dosing” on vitamins and minerals can be dangerous. For instance, there have been instances of people being taken to the hospital after taking dangerously high levels of vitamin D. Consuming too much vitamin D can cause mild symptoms, such as thirst and needing to urinate more frequently, but in severe cases it can cause seizures, coma, and death.
Meanwhile, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US, excess vitamin A can cause “severe headache, blurred vision, nausea, dizziness, muscle aches, and problems with coordination. In severe cases, getting too much preformed vitamin A can even lead to coma and death.”
The clinical trials that have been done on vitamins and minerals sometimes have contradictory results, and suggest that whether you will benefit from taking vitamin supplements depends on who you are, as well as the exact micronutrient the supplement contains.
Thirty-six newly qualified medical doctors from Family Health University (FHU) have been officially inducted into the medical profession by the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) of Ghana.
The ceremony, held in Accra over the weekend, formed part of the induction of 192 new doctors.
Addressing the gathering, the Registrar of the MDC, Dr. Divine Ndonbi Banyubala, reminded the inductees of the immense responsibility their profession carries, often involving decisions that could mean life or death.
He urged them to uphold the highest professional standards to maintain the trust and confidence of the public, adding that the MDC would continue its mandate of safeguarding public health and ensuring quality training for medical and dental practitioners.
The Chairman of the Council, Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, also advised the new doctors to always place patients’ well-being as their top priority.
He encouraged them to pursue continuous learning, stay abreast of emerging medical technologies, and uphold the noble traditions of the medical profession.
This year’s batch is particularly historic for FHU, as the 36 inductees are the first batch of graduates to be inducted since the institution attained full university charter status in 2024.
Trained under the guidance of esteemed lecturers and professors, and supervised by the institution’s founders, Prof. Enyonam Yao Kwawukume and Dr. Susu Bridget Kwawukume, the doctors are the product of years of rigorous academic and clinical preparation.
The Dean of Family Health Medical School, Dr. Sylvester Yaw Oppong, expressed pride in the graduates, noting that their perseverance and commitment during their studies would serve them well in their professional practice.
Prof. Kwawukume, in his remarks, stressed the importance of teamwork, professional ethics, and continuous mentorship, assuring the graduates that the university would remain committed to supporting their growth and monitoring their progress.
Several inductees expressed heartfelt gratitude to the founders for establishing Ghana’s first private medical school, enabling them to fulfil their aspirations of becoming doctors. They praised the dedication, patience, and professionalism of their lecturers and pledged to serve their communities with diligence and compassion.
Family Health University’s Medical School is Ghana’s premier private medical school, offering a six-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) programme for SSCE and ‘A’ Level graduates, and a four-and-a-half-year Graduate Entry Medical Programme (GEMP) for science degree holders.
The institution prides itself on student-centered learning strategies designed to foster excellence and innovation in healthcare delivery.
Health authorities at Nalerigu’s Baptist Medical Centre are compelled to treat patients with various infectious diseases in a single makeshift ward because the contractor who was paid ¢4.5 million for the COVID-19 centre abandoned the site.
Imagine being in a ward with other patients suffering from different infectious diseases. You have mpox, someone has cholera, and the next person on the bed closest to you has TB. Just a series of repeated coughs, and you are likely to go home with another hospital-acquired infection.
This is the daily reality of patients at the Nalerigu Baptist Medical Centre, where health care providers have to treat patients in a makeshift ward.
In 2020, the government awarded Makro Structures Limited a contract worth GH¢15 million, of which GH¢4.5 million was paid upfront, to design and construct a COVID-19 treatment centre for the area. However, the contractor has since abandoned the site.
JOYNEWS has been tracking the progress of various infectious disease centres.
When Nalerigu recorded its first suspected case of Mpox this year, health authorities at the Baptist Medical Centre had no choice but to treat the patient in its makeshift ward, which had been set aside for infectious diseases.
It’s a typical small room, partitioned to separate patients with different infectious diseases. According to the Medical Director, Dr. Isabella Amese, the ward was originally designated for tuberculosis treatment.
However, as a wider range of cases emerged over time, the team was forced to improvise.
The contractor was paid GH¢4.5 million to complete the facility by October 2022, but only executed 10 per cent of the civil works before abandoning the site.
When JOYNEWS visited, the project was still at the foundation level, with no contractor present. The site had been overtaken by overgrown weeds and stagnant water.
The Auditor-General, in a special report on COVID-19 expenditure between March 2020 and 2022, stated that several efforts by the Ministry of Health to get the contractor to return to the site have proved fruitless.
This is because the contractor did not sign any performance bond. Assembly Member for the Zaari Fong Electoral Area, Bukari Fuseini, says he is appalled by the contractor’s output and is calling on the government to intervene.
The Auditor-General has recommended that the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health recover the mobilisation amount, terminate the contract, and re-award it. Failure to do so would require the Director to refund the amount.
Efforts to get the Health Ministry to comment on the matter have proved futile.
Also at Goaso, in the Ahafo Region, the infectious disease centre is partially completed. A tour of the facility revealed that signage is yet to be installed, sensor control panels are not in place, and minor roof repairs remain outstanding.
Although hospital authorities have taken stock of much of the required equipment, an X-ray machine, a deep freezer, and a stove are yet to be supplied by the contractor. The centre is currently not functional.
When the team inspected the Zebilla Infectious Disease Centre in the Upper East Region, the facility had been completed.
However, due to the absence of any major infectious disease outbreak, hospital management had repurposed the facility by converting sections into neonatal and antenatal units.
A space has, however, been designated specifically for infectious diseases if there is an outbreak in future, confirms Ayobi Abdul Rahman, the Medical Superintendent of Bawku West Hospital.
However, the hospital was not supplied with ventilators or X-ray machines, which are critical equipment for any infectious disease centre.
“The project received support from the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition as part of its objective to build evidence for increased accountability in Ghana through a multi-stakeholder accountability initiative.
“Any financial assistance or support provided to the journalist has no editorial influence. The content of this article belongs solely to the author and is not endorsed by or associated with any entity or any other affiliates,” Ayobi Abdul Rahman added.
