The coalition of Concerned Nurses and Midwives trainees has expressed disappointment in the failure of the government to fulfill its promise of paying their allowances.
Despite Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s assurance that GHC177 million would be transferred to the Ministry of Health for the payment of trainee allowances, the trainees are yet to receive any payments.
The promise was made by Dr. Bawumia during this year’s International Nurses Day celebration on May 14, 2024. However, the trainee nurses and midwives have not received any alerts or information regarding the disbursement process.
In a statement released by the coalition on May 20, they stated, “Despite the Vice President’s announcement over nineteen days ago, no payments have been made nor information provided on the disbursement process.” The coalition emphasized that the GHC177 million announced by Dr. Bawumia is insufficient to cover the arrears owed to the trainees.
According to the coalition, the released amount only covers 11.5% of the total arrears, with 30% of the trainees (approximately 17,430 students) never receiving any allowances. The arrears for this group alone amount to GHC209.16 million, which is more than the announced GHC177 million.
The coalition called on the government to fulfill its promises and ensure that all arrears are cleared promptly. They highlighted the importance of prioritizing the education and well-being of nurses and midwives, stating that these should never be compromised. The trainees are still waiting for the government to fulfill its commitments and provide them with the allowances they are owed.
