Nearly 60% of Greater Accra Health Workers Considering Quitting, KNUST Study Finds

By: Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada | June 12, 2026

ACCRA, GHANA — A new study has revealed that nearly six out of every ten health workers in the Greater Accra Region are considering leaving their jobs. The findings have raised serious concerns about the stability and long-term sustainability of Ghana’s healthcare workforce.

The study, published in the journal Heliyon, discovered that 59.8% of surveyed healthcare professionals in the region reported intentions to resign from their current positions. The research highlights the severe, ongoing workforce challenges plaguing both public and private medical institutions in the country.

Workplace Pressures and Understaffing Drive Attrition

Led by Dr. Phillip Apraku Tawiah from the School of Public Health at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), alongside partner institutions, researchers surveyed 495 health workers. The participant pool spanned 10 public and private hospitals in Greater Accra and included doctors, nurses, midwives, laboratory personnel, physiotherapists, and supporting staff.

According to the data, the desire to quit was heavily linked to toxic or exhausting work conditions. The key drivers of turnover intentions included:

 Severe Understaffing: Healthcare workers who felt their departments were understaffed were 40% more likely to express an intention to leave.

 Overtime Demands: Working overtime increased the likelihood of wanting to quit by 26%.

 Extended Work Weeks: Routinely working more than five days a week was heavily correlated with job dissatisfaction.

 Workplace Violence: Exposure to physical assault while on the job increased a worker’s likelihood of intending to leave by 21%.

The study also highlighted that supporting staff registered the highest likelihood of wanting to quit compared to other medical professionals.

The Protective Power of Rest

Conversely, the data yielded one key protective factor: adequate sleep. Healthcare workers who managed to sleep at least eight hours daily were significantly less likely to report intentions to leave their jobs, indicating that proper rest can serve as a vital buffer against burnout and occupational stress.

While the researchers noted that the 59.8% turnover intention rate is slightly lower than statistics recorded in some previous studies across Africa, they warned that the figure remains dangerously high. If left unaddressed, the widespread desire to leave will inevitably cripple healthcare delivery and lower the quality of patient care in the region.

Recommendations for Policy Action

The authors of the study concluded that systemic issues—namely excessive workloads, staffing shortages, and unsafe working environments—are driving widespread stress, burnout, and job dissatisfaction.

To combat this brewing crisis, the researchers have urged health administrators and government policymakers to implement immediate structural changes. Recommended interventions include improving staffing levels, establishing better-regulated work schedules, enhancing workplace security to prevent assaults, and introducing targeted staff wellness and mental health programs to improve overall retention.