Deputy Health Minister misinformed Ghanaians - Rotation nurses allege

The Coalition of Rotation Nurses and Midwives of Ghana has accused the Deputy Minister of Health Alexander Kojo Abban, of misinforming Ghanaians about the payment of their allowances.

In a statement signed by the convener of the coalition, Nathaniel Aboagye, the group expressed disappointment in the minister for statements they claim he made on Accra-based Class FM.

“The minister stated clearly that clearance has been released and even read the clearance which was issued on 24th September 2019 which is very true. Financial clearance being released is an essential step which has been done but other two important processes have been left unattended to after the release of the clearance”, parts of their statement reads.

The ground indicated that it has never been their contention that financial clearance has not been given for their employment but rather “what our press conference captured was that the government should pay us as soon as possible and with the right amount”.

These issues they claimed the minister ignored during the said interview and rather focused financial clearance, biometric registration and comparing their allowances with degree nurses.

“We are much disappointed in the honourable Deputy Minister of Health, Hon Alexander Kojo Abban for his statements”, they reiterated.

According to them, they said biometric registration the minister claims is ongoing never started, noting that they had a meeting with the ministry on October 14 where they were promised the bio-metric registration will start on October 26.

“Today is 30th October 2019 and we have not even received a notice to start the said biometric. So, we are stating emphatically clear that the minister lied to the public by saying members of our coalition have undergone biometric and that should expect money from November”, they explained.

The coalition also expressed disquiet over the comparison of their allowances to that of degree nurses, an act they said is unethical for the minister to have done.

They explained, the minister should have known they are not on the same pay structure as that of the degree nurses and find the minister’s comments as attempts to cause disaffection between them and the degree nurses.

“We as diploma health interns are captured in the 2019 single spine salary structure which the degree nurses are not.

“This has been the policy since 8 years ago and there has not been any document to move us from the single spine salary structure or reduce the amount indicated in it. The minister should have asked himself why the degree nurses do not receive student allowance before making those comments...He is an honourable member and should know that his statement can bring about confusion and separation”, the statement said.

The coalition, however, says they are not surprised about the minister’s comments because he is not in touch with the issues, adding he never met leadership of the coalition in person despite several petitions to meet him.

According to the coalition, they are using this opportunity to notify the government that if their allowances are not paid in a week’s time, they will embark on a nationwide civil action.