In a fervent plea echoing across healthcare corridors, the Coalition of Concerned Nurses and Midwives Trainees voices their disappointment. Despite the resounding promise from Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the long-awaited allowances for trainees remain elusive.
It was a moment of hope kindled during the commemoration of International Nurses Day in Accra on May 14, 2024, where Dr. Bawumia stood before a gathering of aspiring healthcare professionals. With unwavering assurance, he proclaimed, “By Thursday this week, the Controller and Accountant-General is transferring an amount of GHC177 million to the Ministry of Health to pay the trainee allowances.”
However, reality paints a starkly different picture. Over nineteen days have elapsed since that proclamation, yet the promised payments have failed to materialize. The trainee nurses and midwives, ever vigilant, await a signal of relief in the form of an alert from the Ministry of Health.
In a statement released on Monday, May 20, the coalition bares the weight of unmet expectations. "Despite the Vice President’s announcement... no payments have been made nor information provided on the disbursement process," they lament.
The promised GHC177 million, once a beacon of hope, now appears insufficient against the backdrop of mounting arrears. "The recently released GHC117 million covers only 11.5% of the total arrears, which is woefully inadequate," the coalition underscores. A staggering 30% of trainees, approximately 17,430 students, have yet to receive any allowances, further exacerbating the financial strain.
The arithmetic of neglect is stark. The coalition's calculation reveals an alarming truth: the minimum total arrears required amount to GHC209.16 million, far surpassing the paltry sum allocated. Theirs is not just a call for financial rectitude but a plea for the acknowledgment of their worth as future pillars of healthcare.
In the face of adversity, the coalition's resolve remains unyielding. They implore the government to uphold its commitments, recognizing that the education and well-being of nurses and midwives should never be subject to compromise.
As the echoes of unkept promises reverberate, the trainee nurses and midwives stand united, unwavering in their pursuit of justice and dignity in their profession.
Below is the full statement
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