NABCO resolves challenges with outstanding stipends – Information Minister

NABCO resolves challenges with outstanding stipends

The Nation Builder’s Corps program has completed the resolution of challenges it encountered with the processing of stipends for some 9,235 beneficiaries.

It will be recalled that in the past week some beneficiaries have complained of non-receipt of their monthly stipend of 700 Ghana cedis even as their colleagues on the same program had received theirs.

NABCO stipends for 2018 were fully funded in the 2018 budget and payments commenced for some 77,907 beneficiaries. However, some 18,001 beneficiaries, unfortunately, did not receive their stipends for various reasons as outlined below.

The difficulties encountered called for a halt in further processing of the payroll for the data sets to be corrected. Indeed, the NABCO secretariat sent messages to beneficiaries to correct their data for it to be rekeyed into the system.

The Secretariat informs us that 9,235 of them have now corrected their data and thus will be paid this week. Their December and regular stipends are also programmed to be paid immediately afterwards.

Another 8,766 still have outstanding data issues and are encouraged to correct their data as requested of them in messages sent to them so they can be paid as soon as possible.

It must be noted however that some 2,105 have been found to be already employed on other government programs such as YEA, NSS, Forestry Commission Payroll, MOH Nursing Training Institution or already employed in other sectors. The Secretariat informs us that such persons will be exited from the program.

Additionally, since October 2018 a total of 1,098 have also notified the secretariat of an intention to exit to other employment schemes. These voluntary exits are expected to continue as government continues to recruit into the public services. This will create more vacancies on the NABCO roll and will give the secretariat room to onboard persons who are on the waiting list and have not been placed yet.

It is for this reason that even after placing the first about 100,000 beneficiaries, others were left on a waiting list. Those on this waiting list who have not been placed may be placed as vacancies open up based on the aforementioned reasons.

Being on the waiting list or even being placed does not mean a beneficiary is bonded as some have speculated. Entry onto and exit from the program is purely voluntary. NABCO encourages beneficiaries who desire to stay on the waiting list to indicate same on the NABCO recruitment platform online.

2. Government secures 60million dollars for the implementation of the phase 2 of the University of Health and Allied Sciences Project.

The government has secured a 60 million dollar facility for the implementation of the Phase 2 of the University of Allied Sciences Project at Ho in the Volta Region.

Under the bilateral agreement between the two countries, the project is expected to enhance higher education on medicine, promote advanced medical care and also provide jobs for the Health Sector.

In September 2015, the first phase of the University funded by the Chinese government was officially handed over to Ghana.

The first phase covered a land area of 10.386 square metres and comprised the school of basic and biomedical science, lecture halls, libraries, student housing facilities and senior staff residential area.

Phase 2 will cover a total floor area of 29,200 square meters with the following content;

• The central Administration block
• The school of Nursing and Midwifery duty and equipment Room as well as supporting facilities such as the desks, chairs and computers as well as teaching aids for a medical specialty.

The Minister of Finance Ken Ofori Atta and the Chinese Ambassador Wang Shitin have signed an MOU to that effect.

Government is pleased about this agreement and wishes to work together to enhance the already strong and cordial relations between Ghana and China while deepening our commitment to expansion in education, Health Care and infrastructure.

Source: Kojo Oppong Nkrumah