Why Do Foreign Doctors Go to Rural Areas but Our Own Don’t? – Kwame Jantuah Raises Concerns

Legal practitioner and Member of the CPP, Kwame Jantuah Esq., has questioned the recurring reluctance of Ghanaian doctors to accept postings to rural communities, especially after the Minister of Health issued an ultimatum to those who have refused such assignments.

According to him, the situation exposes a deeper structural problem in Ghana’s health sector, one where foreign medical professionals willingly serve in remote areas while local doctors avoid them. He described the contrast as troubling and reflective of long-standing policy failures.

Kwame Jantuah Esq argued that Ghanaian doctors often reject rural postings not out of a lack of patriotism, but because the conditions in these areas remain poor and unattractive. He pointed to inadequate medical equipment, limited accommodation, lack of transportation, and poor infrastructure as major deterrents.

He stressed that no professional should be expected to work effectively in an environment where basic tools and resources are missing.

He therefore urged government to address the root causes rather than issuing threats or ultimatums. Jantuah called for a comprehensive rural healthcare incentive plan, which should include improved facilities, better remuneration, housing opportunities, and career development pathways for doctors who accept such postings.

Until these systemic issues are resolved, he warned, the cycle of reluctance will continue regardless of how many directives the Ministry of Health issues.