Psychiatric nurses demand postings
More than 160 psychiatric nurses have picketed at the Ministry of Health to protest against an eight-month delay in their postings.
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The nurses were trained at the Pantang Nurses Training College in the Greater Accra Region, the Ankaful Nurses Training College and the Twifo Praso Nurses Training College, both in the Central Region.
According to the aggrieved nurses, after their national service in 2014, they had still not received their clearance letters to enable them to be posted and paid.
They, however, stated that most of their mates with whom they graduated but served in other areas such as enrolled nursing within the health sector had received their clearance letters, been posted and were already working.
Clearance letters
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the President of the Ghana Nurses and Midwives Trainees Association (GNMTA), Mr Emmanuel Geyevo, stated that although the ministry had assured them of their postings, they were not leaving the premises until they were promised their clearance letters.
Explaining further, he said with the clearance letters, they would be able to receive their salaries at the end of the month, however, without it, they would be working for free even if they were eventually posted.
“We are not leaving until we are assured of our clearance letters,” he said.
Mr Geyevo stated that they did not understand why their mates from the private nurses training colleges had been posted, yet those from the government institutions had not been posted.
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“The situation is having an adverse toll on us. After being at home for eight months, we are frustrated,” he added.
Enrolled nurses
An enrolled nurse who had not received his postings, Mr Daniel Sekyi Koranteng, stated that nurses who were trained in government institutions were obliged to serve the nation for five years before they could resign or continue their education.
He, therefore, stated that the delay in their postings would prolong the stipulated time during which they could serve the nation.
Mr Koranteng stated that when they took their grievances to the Ghana Health Service Accra Regional Directorate, they were told to go home and wait for their postings next year.
Ministry of Health
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ministry, Mr Tony Goodman, remained tight-lipped when the Daily Graphic attempted to interview him on the issue.