Pay us our allowance now – group calls on government

Some group of Allied Health Professionals have petitioned the government as a matter of urgency to pay them allowances owe them or withdraw their services with immediate effect.

In a petition signed by the Convener of the group, Bright Kantah, to the president Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, Minister of Health, Dr. Kweku Agyemang Manu and the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, the group said no allowance has been paid them since commencement of work from September 1, 2017 and this has brought untold hardships on them.

The group which provides essential services at various health facilities across the country said the situation is really thwarting their zeal to protect and save lives.

They described the situation as “horrifying and worrying” since they cannot afford three square meals daily and their benefactors have stopped supporting them.

They indicated that their colleagues from other schools undertaking their national service have received their allowances while they are yet to receive anything from government.

Narrating how bad the situation is affecting them, Bright Kantah said “we are really devastated and tormented by this terrific fate as some of us can no longer afford to pay our rents, transport fares to work, utility bills etc. some colleagues have to walk miles of distance to work simply because they can’t afford transport fares. Others have been thrown out of their rooms by their landlords for non-payment of rents”
According to the convenor,”.

The group is made up of health professionals trained by the Ministry of Health training institution and are obliged by law to undergo a mandatory one year Internship or national service after graduating from school of which the ministry of health is supposed to pay them monthly allowances through the controller an accountant general’s department”.

They are therefore calling on the president and his minsters as well as other relevant stakeholders to expedite steps that will result in paying them their due.

“We hope and pray that you will treat this as a matter of necessity in order for us to receive our monies” he concluded.