The delay in the payment of allowances to trainee nurses and midwives has drawn the attention of the Ghana Nurse-Midwife Trainees’ Association (GNMTA).
The GNMTA asserts that the payment schedule has not been fully adhered to, even though the government has promised to pay these allowances.
The association confirmed in a statement released on Tuesday, June 25, the partial payments given to certain members; allowances were given to trainees in their first, second, and third years for five, six, and five months, respectively.
However, they expressed concern that the 2022 batch, which was supposed to receive their arrears on May 23, as well as the 2023 and other batches, had not received these payments.
The GNMTA also noted that no allowance has yet been disbursed to any of the following batches: 2017–2020, 2018–2021, 2019–2022, and 2020–2023. This situation has to be addressed immediately, according to the association, which called it unacceptable.
The reinstatement of the trainee nurses’ allowance was a significant decision intended to help members during their critical training period. But trainees who depend on these monies for their basic needs and academic support are feeling the financial pinch and losing hope as a result of the current delays.
The Ministry of Health, the government, and all other pertinent authorities have been urged to take prompt action to address this issue by the GNMTA. They stressed the importance of disbursing the allowances as soon as possible in order to fulfill the purpose for which they were reinstated.
The association also urged all Ghanaians to voice their concerns so that this pressing issue gets the attention it deserves. They emphasised that the future of Ghana’s healthcare system is dependent on the well-being and support of its trainees, and that timely payment of allowances is an important part of that support.
The GNMTA remains hopeful that this issue will be resolved quickly and has pledged to continue advocating tirelessly for its members’ rights and welfare.
