Nearly Six in 10 Health Workers in Greater Accra Consider Quitting, Study Finds

A new study has revealed a troubling trend in Ghana’s health sector: nearly six out of every 10 health workers in the Greater Accra Region are considering leaving their jobs, a finding that raises urgent questions about the stability of the country’s healthcare workforce.

The research, published in the journal Heliyon, found that 59.8 per cent of health workers surveyed across 10 public and private hospitals in the region reported intentions to leave their current positions. The study paints a picture of a workforce under siege from excessive hours, staffing shortages and, in some cases, physical violence.

The survey, led by Dr Phillip Apraku Tawiah of the School of Public Health at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), covered 495 health workers including doctors, nurses, midwives, laboratory personnel, physiotherapists and support staff. The breadth of the sample gives the findings considerable weight, capturing a cross-section of the professionals who form the backbone of the capital’s healthcare delivery.

Overwork and Understaffing

The study identified several key factors driving the desire to leave. Health workers who reported working overtime were 26 per cent more likely to consider quitting. Those who perceived their departments as understaffed were 40 per cent more likely to express intentions to leave. Perhaps most alarmingly, workers who had experienced physical assault on the job showed significantly higher rates of turnover intention.

“Supporting staff category, worked for more than five days in a typical week, worked overtime, perceived understaff and exposure to physical assault were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of turnover intention,” the researchers noted.

In contrast, the study found that health workers who managed to sleep at least eight hours daily were less likely to report intentions to leave, suggesting that adequate rest may serve as a protective factor against the burnout that drives attrition.

A Systemic Problem

Excessive workload, staffing shortages and workplace violence contribute to stress, burnout and job dissatisfaction among health workers, the researchers noted, increasing the likelihood that they will seek employment elsewhere or leave the profession altogether.

Although the turnover intention rate was lower than some previous studies conducted in Ghana and other parts of Africa, the researchers warned that a 59.8 per cent attrition risk remains high enough to threaten healthcare delivery across the Greater Accra Region, which serves as the country’s most densely populated area.

The findings echo broader concerns about healthcare governance in the country. The recent suspension of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital CEO exposed fault lines in how the sector is managed, with questions about accountability and institutional support for frontline workers surfacing repeatedly.

What the Researchers Recommend

The study recommends that health administrators and policymakers address overtime work, staffing gaps and workplace safety concerns as a matter of urgency. Measures such as improved staffing levels, better work schedules, enhanced security and staff wellness programmes could help reduce turnover intentions and maintain quality healthcare services.

For a country that has invested heavily in health infrastructure in recent years, the prospect of losing nearly 60 per cent of its health workforce in a single region is not merely a statistical concern. It is a warning that the human element of healthcare delivery requires as much attention as the physical infrastructure that supports it.

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