The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has dismissed allegations that the Ministry of Health’s recruitment portal is fraudulent, attributing the challenges faced by applicants to overwhelming traffic and intense competition for limited vacancies.
His remarks come amid growing frustration among health professionals seeking employment, many of whom have reported difficulties accessing the online platform. Some frustrated applicants have even questioned the credibility of the process, describing it as a scam.
Speaking after commissioning a Free Primary Healthcare post at the Madina Polyclinic on Thursday, May 14, Mr. Akandoh insisted that the recruitment exercise is genuine and officially sanctioned.
“The portal is the one that has been announced by the Ministry of Health,” he said, explaining that internal checks showed numerous applicants successfully accessing the system every second. “You realise that about 10 people enter every second. So, it’s very, very competitive and it depends on where you are, your connectivity, and all that.”
Acknowledging the frustrations of applicants, the minister assured the public that measures were being explored to improve the process and restore confidence.
He pledged full transparency, noting that successful placements would be published district by district and region by region once the exercise concludes.
“At the end of the day, we are going to publish everything. So, if it is a scam, everybody will know,” he emphasized.
Mr. Akandoh further revealed that government is considering additional strategies to strengthen recruitment within the health sector while addressing the increasing migration of healthcare professionals abroad.
He cautioned applicants to remain vigilant against fraudsters who exploit desperate job seekers by impersonating politicians and public officials to demand money or promise fake opportunities. “Even before I became a health minister, you can ask members of parliament. They are using their names all over on several platforms. They are duping people,” he warned.
The minister urged the public to report suspected fraudulent activities, assuring that authorities would act swiftly against offenders.
Turning to broader health policy, Mr. Akandoh highlighted the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative, stressing that the programme is being financed locally through the National Health Insurance Fund rather than external loans or donor support.
“And let me tell you that we are running this programme not on loans and not on grants. It is you and I, our money,” he stated.
He added that the initiative would not create additional bureaucratic structures, explaining that implementation would be carried out through the Ghana Health Service in collaboration with private healthcare providers.
Mr. Akandoh called on the public to support and take ownership of the programme to ensure its long‑term sustainability and success.
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