Nearly six out of every ten health workers in Ghana’s Greater Accra Region are considering leaving their jobs, according to a new study by researchers from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and partner institutions. The findings have renewed concerns about staff retention and the long-term sustainability of healthcare delivery in the country.
👉🏽 Join 15,000+ readers online now. Join our WhatsApp Daily News Channel for breaking updates.
Research Reveals Growing Frustration
The study, published in the journal Heliyon, found that 59.8% of surveyed health workers across ten public and private hospitals in Greater Accra have considered quitting their current jobs. Researchers surveyed 495 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, midwives, laboratory staff and support workers, to understand what is driving turnover intentions.
Heavy Workload and Violence Among Key Factors
The research identified overtime work, understaffing, working more than five days a week and exposure to physical assault at work as major contributors to workers wanting to resign. Staff who believed their departments were understaffed were significantly more likely to consider leaving, while those regularly working overtime also reported much higher levels of dissatisfaction.
The findings suggest that burnout and unsafe working environments are placing increasing pressure on Ghana’s healthcare workforce, potentially threatening future service delivery if conditions do not improve.
Why This Story Matters
Ghana’s health sector has long struggled with workforce shortages and migration of skilled professionals abroad. If almost 60% of workers are seriously considering leaving, hospitals could face greater staffing challenges, longer patient waiting times and increased pressure on remaining personnel. The study recommends improved staffing levels, safer workplaces and better work-life balance policies to improve retention.
Read more Ghana News, Ghana News Live, Top Stories, Policy & Law Hub, Press & Media and The Economy of Ghana on GhanaMedia.net.
Follow Ghana Media on Facebook, Ghana News Facebook and watch exclusive videos on Ghana Media Telegram.
Support our journalism at Donate. Interested in our upcoming event? Get tickets here: Eventbrite.
