NPP Has a Habit of Leaving Problems Behind — Dr. Rashid Pelpuo on Unpaid Nurses Crisis
NPP Has a Habit of Leaving Problems Behind — Dr. Rashid Pelpuo on Unpaid Nurses Crisis
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Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of deliberately creating financial and administrative challenges for successive governments, particularly regarding the current unpaid nurses and midwives crisis.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on October 7, the Wa Central MP claimed that the present government inherited a “payroll crisis” from the NPP administration, which, he said, employed thousands of workers without making adequate budgetary provisions.
“It’s in their DNA to give the incoming government a problem — let them fail, and let the people say that they have failed,” Dr. Pelpuo said.
“At the point of exit, they imposed on us 12,000 new workers without preparing to pay them. They didn’t have the money, but they employed them anyway.”
His comments follow a protest by the Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives, who demonstrated in Accra on October 2, demanding payment of nearly 10 months of salary arrears. The group says about 7,000 nurses and midwives, officially posted in December 2024 after receiving financial clearance, have still not been paid, even though some 6,500 colleagues began receiving salaries in April 2025.
Dr. Pelpuo argued that the issue reflects a recurring pattern in the NPP’s governance approach. He cited the transition between the Kufuor and Atta Mills administrations, noting that the latter had to deal with the complexities of the Single Spine Salary Structure left behind.
“It’s like their DNA to give the incoming government a problem,” he reiterated, accusing the NPP of prioritising political gain over fiscal responsibility.
According to him, the timing of the mass recruitment — just before the 2024 elections — shows it was politically motivated.
“They had been preparing to contest an election, not to sustain employment. They wanted to create the impression that young people had been employed, just to win their hearts and votes,” he added.
Dr. Pelpuo, however, assured that the government remains focused on resolving the issue.
“We are not complaining; we are finding solutions. We acknowledge that young people need to work and live decently. We are doing everything possible to settle the matter before the end of the year,” he said.
