By: Nana Antwi Boasiako
The Ghana Nurse-Midwife Trainees’ Association (GNMTA) is sounding an alarm over the government’s failure to disburse allowances to trainee nurses and midwives in a timely manner, despite previous assurances. Government had pledged to pay these allowances, but GNMTA asserts that the payment schedule has not been fully met, leaving trainees in a difficult financial situation.
In a statement released on Tuesday, June 25, the Ghana Nurse-Midwife Trainees’ Association acknowledged the partial payment of allowances to some of its members. According to the statement, first-year trainees received 5 months’ arrears, second-year trainees received 6 months, and third-year trainees received 5 months. However, the association remains concerned about the outstanding balances owed to its members.
The association voiced concern that despite the partial payments made, the arrears owed to the 2022 batch, which was scheduled to be paid on May 23, remains outstanding. Additionally, the 2023 batch and other batches are still awaiting their payments, further exacerbating the financial hardship faced by the trainees.
The Ghana Nurse-Midwife Trainees’ Association (GNMTA) also drew attention to the alarming fact that several batches, namely 2017-2020, 2018-2021, 2019-2022, and 2020-2023, have not received a single installment of their allowances.
The association vehemently condemned this situation as unacceptable and urged prompt action. The reinstatement of the trainee nurses’ allowance was a landmark decision intended to support trainees during their critical training phase. However, the prolonged delays are inflicting financial hardship and demoralization on trainees, who rely heavily on these funds for their basic needs and academic expenses.
GNMTA is urgently appealing to the Ministry of Health, the government, and all concerned authorities to take prompt action and resolve the issue of unpaid allowances.
They emphasized the need for swift disbursement of the funds to achieve the intended purpose of supporting trainee nurses and midwives during their training, and to alleviate the financial hardships and distress caused by the delays.
They emphasized the need for swift disbursement of the funds to achieve the intended purpose of supporting trainee nurses and midwives during their training, and to alleviate the financial hardships and distress caused by the delays.
