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Due to the ruling New Patriotic Party’s disregard for them, members of the Union of Trainee Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UTNMG) have threatened to vote against them in the next elections. The Union claims that the government, led by President Akufo-Addo, has been depriving them of their allowances for 19 months, which has caused them to suffer, which is why they made this choice.
Agbeti Robert Immortal, the president of the Ghanaian Union of Trainee Nurses and Midwives, signed a news release containing this information. This time, it won’t be tolerated because the government has repeatedly broken its pledges to pay the allowance.
The results of this year’s election will demonstrate how the government has neglected the welfare of trainees, who will hold politicians responsible,” he stated.
He demanded that the government pay the arrears immediately, stating that the inability to do so is an obvious instance of “economic injustice” and “betrayal of trust.” He said that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP presidential candidate, had pledged to uphold and guarantee the regular payment of teacher trainee allowances, but added that “the reality on the ground tells a different story.” Concerned about the difference in allowances between teacher candidates and their health sector counterparts, Mr. Immortal said that it “raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to fairness and equity.”
“In June 2024, the government released GHC219 million to 104,000 trainee nurses and midwives and GHC216 million to 67,000 teacher trainees who receive various government supports, including flexible fee payment policies, student loans, and the reimbursement of their feeding fees,” he said.
He bemoaned the fact that the nursing and midwife trainees are struggling financially as a result of the allowances’ delayed payment, finding it challenging to pay for their personal and academic expenses.
He claimed that the increase in tuition costs and admissions by more than 100%, with training facilities asking up to GH₵9,000, made their predicament worse because they had to fight to pay 60% or risk being turned away from the dining and testing facilities.
He added that between 39% and 48% of the school fees are paid for food, and he demanded that a reform be created right away to reorganize the payments. Nurses and midwives in training are left to struggle without any relief.
While some health training institutions require full payment of fees, others only require 60%, and noncompliance leads to banishment from the dining and exam rooms.
“The current system maintains inequity by charging nursing assistant certificate holders and diploma nurses more than their degree-granting counterparts.” “This needs to be reconsidered because it is unacceptable.” Reducing new bills, making feeding optional, lowering library costs, and combining all prices associated with computer maintenance, internet user fees, and computer lab setup are among the improvements that UTNMG suggests.
“The government must act immediately to resolve these issues and guarantee justice and equity in education,” he stated. Additionally, Mr. Immortal voiced concerns regarding the National Service allowance payments to health sector employees, pointing out that the allowances have not been paid in full since January 2023.
He claimed that continuing this regrettable treatment of medical trainees and military members would put the nation’s health system in a precarious position and could affect the achievement of SDGs 1, 4, 8, and 10.
The trainees’ trust has been damaged by the government’s delay, which has also increased their financial burden and made health training exclusive to a wealthy minority. The achievement of SDG Goals 1—No Poverty, SDG Goal 4; Quality Education, SDG Goal 8; Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG Goal 10—Reduce Inequality—has been thwarted by the government’s inaction, no question about it.
The government’s inactions have affected these SDGs by causing a lack of investment in healthcare, education, and employment opportunities, which has led to financial hardship and a rise in inequality among trainees. He came to the conclusion that the government needed to take accountability and take action immediately
