The General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), David Tenkorang-Twum, said nurses are yet to receive the insurance that the government promised them during the pandemic.
According to him, those who fell ill and lost their lives due to the pandemic, their families never received any package.
Speaking on "The Probe" on Joy News on June 10, he noted that none of the government's promises to frontline workers had been fulfilled.
"We have countless challenges ahead of us. It was never paid. Most people didn't get it. I know several nurses and doctors who died and their relatives never got insurance. And even those who got sick.
“Remember the insurance was in stages; those who were seriously ill, in the ICU and those who died. I'm telling you most nurses and midwives never got insurance. Even the 50% contribution that should have been given to those who cared for our Covid patients, most of them did not get. We have a lot of things ahead of us," he said.
Mr Tenkorang-Twum claimed that poor service conditions for nurses and midwives had caused a serious brain drain.
He noted that about 3,000 nurses have left Ghana as a result of the terrible conditions of service.
“Several midwives and nurses are leaving this country and that is all the more reason why it is imperative for the government to look at the conditions of service for nurses and midwives. In addition to COLA, nurses and midwives are leaving.
“When the pandemic hit, a few people in the UK even decided to resign from the NHS and because of Brexit, some nurses also went to other jurisdictions such as Australia and Canada, so there is a shortage of nurses and midwives in the UK and Ireland. and Wales and our people who are leaving; of course no one can stop them from traveling.
"In 2019, 900 midwives left this country. In 2020, about a thousand of them left this country. Now, from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022, I have evidence to show that more than 3,000 sisters have left the shores of this country,” he lamented.
President Akufo-Addo on April 5, 2020 in his address to the nation on covid-19 update announced some incentives for front line workers.
Incentives included the following:
Exemption from paying tax on their employee benefits for three months starting April 2020.
A daily allowance of GHS 150 (approx. USD 26) payable to those engaged in contact tracing.
An additional contribution of 50% of their basic salary per month for four months starting March 2020.
Insurance package with sum insured of GHS 350,000 (approx. USD 60,345).
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