North East Region faces critical health worker shortage, Nayiri urges government action

Healthcare delivery in Ghana's North East Region is under severe strain due to chronic staff shortages at health facilities, prompting the Nayiri—the traditional ruler of the Mamprugu Traditional Area—to appeal to government for urgent intervention. During a courtesy call by the newly appointed Acting Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Joyce Emakayor Bening, the Nayiri emphasised that the region requires immediate action to address workforce gaps that are undermining patient care.

The North East Region, which was carved out of the Northern Region, continues to face significant development challenges, and healthcare staffing shortages have compounded these difficulties. The Nayiri stressed that residents deserve equal access to quality healthcare regardless of where they live, and called on the Regional Health Directorate to develop targeted strategies to attract and retain qualified health professionals in the region.

Why it matters for Ghana

Healthcare worker shortages in Ghana's less developed regions represent a critical equity issue. The North East Region's struggle reflects a wider pattern across Ghana where medical and nursing professionals concentrate in urban centres and better-resourced areas, leaving rural and newly created regions underserved. This disparity undermines the nation's health security and development goals. For a region already facing poverty and limited infrastructure, inadequate healthcare staffing directly impacts maternal mortality rates, disease prevention, and overall public health outcomes. Addressing these shortages is essential to achieving equitable healthcare access across Ghana and supporting the region's economic growth.

Regional leadership backs new health director

Dr Bening's appointment marks a significant milestone: she is the first woman to hold the Regional Health Director position since the North East Region's creation. The Nayiri expressed confidence in her leadership and urged her to make lasting improvements during her tenure, whilst assuring her of traditional authority support. Dr Bening reciprocated, pledging to work collaboratively with traditional leaders, the Regional Minister, and the National Health Insurance Authority to tackle healthcare challenges.

Proposed solutions and stakeholder engagement

The Nayiri urged the Regional Health Directorate to explore concrete incentives to encourage health workers to remain in the region. These could include housing allowances, professional development opportunities, or enhanced remuneration packages. Such measures are critical in remote or newly created regions where recruitment and retention are persistently difficult. Dr Bening's commitment to ongoing stakeholder engagement—already demonstrated through meetings with regional officials and traditional authorities—signals a collaborative approach to problem-solving that acknowledges the role of local leadership in healthcare governance.

The appointment of a new regional director offers an opportunity to implement systemic changes. However, success will depend on sustained government support, adequate funding, and practical incentive structures that make postings to the North East attractive to qualified professionals. The Nayiri's appeal underscores a truth often overlooked in health policy: without adequate staffing, even well-designed programmes and infrastructure cannot deliver results. For the North East Region to thrive, healthcare must be prioritised in national resource allocation and workforce planning strategies.