In April this year, the association signed a conditions service agreement with government for payment of all allowances. Implementation has however delayed and the leadership is accusing government of what it describes as clandestine moves to deprive members of their due. At a press conference in Kumasi, following a regional council meeting on September 22, 2016, saw the members venting their anger at development.
Public Relations Officer, Thomas Asafo-Adjei who addressed the journalists the association rejects Fair Wages and Salaries Commission’s arrangement to pay them from internally generated funds of health facilities.
“We wish to state that, we do not and will not accept the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission letter number FWSC/D/SCR3/VOL.16/12 dated 25th August, 2016on the subject, “Implementation of Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRANMA) Collective Agreement”, stating that there will be a central account financed by 10% of internally generated funds from health agencies and facilities.”
According to him, some 400 hundred nurses and midwives in Ashanti region who have worked for about two years are yet to be paid their salaries over the period.
“There are about four hundred nurses and midwives that have worked for over sixteen months (16) months without salaries in the Ashanti region. They should also be paid their arrears in full regarding the duration of service and not three months as have been the case for some of their senior colleagues,” Mr. Asafo-Adjei emphasized.
The association says government has up to the 13th of this month to address concerns of members.
“The association is worried over backlog of nurses and midwives who remain unemployed while the health sector is in dire need of their services. They were trained with the tax payers’ money and are prepared to work for their nation. We wish to inform all stakeholders to work on these issues immediately to avoid our next face of actions after 13th October 2016,” he warned