Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has announced a new deployment strategy that will see the majority of newly qualified doctors sent to rural and underserved parts of the country.

Out of the 700 junior medical doctors currently being processed for posting, the Minister revealed that at least 80% will be assigned to district health facilities as part of government’s effort to bridge the urban–rural gap in healthcare delivery.

Speaking at a meeting at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, Akandoh said the decision was difficult but necessary to correct years of imbalance in medical staffing across the country.

“I have started posting junior doctors, and we are doing not less than 700 of them this year. The process is ongoing. We are determined to post not less than 80% of this 700 to the districts. It is not an easy decision, but it is a necessary one,” he said.

According to the Minister, most doctors continue to prefer postings in Accra and Kumasi, leaving health centres in smaller towns and rural areas understaffed. He said ongoing consultations with stakeholders aim to ensure a fairer distribution of medical officers nationwide.

“We are pleading with you, with the greatest of respect, Accra and Kumasi are choked. From these consultations, we will soon begin redistributing medical doctors across the country. It is a very tough decision, but any opinion or suggestion is welcome,” Akandoh added.

As part of his visit to UGMC, the Minister also presented three anaesthetic machines to the facility and directed that they be installed immediately to improve patient care and surgical efficiency.

Akandoh reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to investing in medical infrastructure and human resources to ensure that quality healthcare is not a privilege limited to urban areas but a right accessible to every Ghanaian, regardless of location.

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