Health Ministry denies allegation of extortion for placement of nurses, midwives

The Ministry of Health has refuted allegations of extortion from unemployed nurses and midwives concerning their recruitment.

The ministry issued a warning to trainee nurses to refrain from communicating with anonymous individuals or disguised ministry officials to facilitate their clearance.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance have been continuously criticised by unemployed nurses and midwives for refusing to grant financial clearance to enable them secure permanent employment.

The health workers have conducted a series of demonstrations and picketed at the Ministry of Health, accusing officials of extorting money in exchange for placements.

Isaac Offei Baah, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, in an interview, dismissed the rumours that ministry officials are taking bribes from newly qualified nurses for their placement.

He explained that no ministry official has been authorized to engage in such activities and said that any nurse who has paid money to anyone claiming to be an official did so at their own risk.

“The Ministry distances itself from these practices, that whoever collects money from you, make sure to request for a receipt from the Ministry. If you are not able to get that receipt you don’t come and say that the Ministry of Health is charging,” he said, a report by 3news.com indicated.

There have been widespread rumours suggesting that people take GH¢10,000 and GH¢8,000 before recruiting nurses and midwives.

Baah wondered why anyone would believe that the ministry would take money from people who have paid fees during their term of education before recruitment.

Touching on issues surrounding the 2024 recruitment portal for the nurses, the PRO indicated that the ministry anticipates employing 15,200 degree, diploma, and certificate nurses and midwives.

He said the portal was opened on Monday, August 5, 2024, and it has since experienced heavy traffic which has caused some system issues

Isaac Offei Baah urged nurses to remain calm as the ministry is working to solve the issue to ensure that all qualified candidates are recruited.

He advised them to also accept postings they are assigned as this will reduce the pressure on the portal.

He further clarified that the 2024 financial clearance has nothing to do with the pending general elections.

RAD/AE

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