Trainees give goverment ultimatum to pay allowances
More than 600 nurse and midwife trainees yesterday staged a demonstration in Accra to protest against the non-payment of their allowances.
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They gave the government a 48-hour ultimatum to pay their allowances or face their wrath.
Among the protestors were those who had completed their training but are owed arrears by the government.
Wearing red arm bands and chanting slogans, the nurses marched from the Obra Spot, near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, through some principal streets of Accra, dancing to brass band music.
They also carried placards, some of which read “Mahama we need our money”, “Yempe Pad, but our money”, “Is this the better Ghana you promised, Mahama”, and No more false promises.”
They later converged on the Heart of Oaks training park where they were addressed by their leaders who presented a petition to officials of the Ministry of Health.
Grievances
The National President of the Ghana Nurses and Midwives Trainees Association (GNMTA), Mr Emma K. Geyevo, who led the demonstrators, said the ministry had failed the student nurses after signing a memorandum of understanding to release their allowances.
He said among others, the inability of the ministry to release the allowance had exposed some of the student nurses to harassment from people who had loaned them money to pay their school fees.
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Mr Geyevo said the continuing students were made to sign a legal document which assured them of sponsorship throughout the period of their training on the basis that they would serve the country for five years after training.
He added that it was unfortunate the government was breaking part of that agreement.
Petition
Presenting the petition, Mr Geyevo asked the Ministry of Health to pay half of the allowance to the students before the end of the month, while the balance should be paid in three months, among other demands.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sugri Tia, who received the petition on behalf of the Minister of Health, promised that the ministry would study it and respond to their grievances within the shortest possible time.