Trainee Nurses Cry Over Unpaid ‘Alawa’

Some Nursing Trainees in various institution across the country have chided the government for inability to pay allowances since its restoration in September, last year.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Nurses and Midwives Trainee Association, Akugri Gadafi said they were extremely worried about the development and described the matter as worrying.

According to him, the delay has put a strain on their finances since most of them depend on it for support and survival through the school.

“It has affected us in so many ways because these allowances were restored purposely to support us financially as we undergo our training. And as it was launched by the President, all parents are aware that we now receive GHc400 as allowances. In actual fact, most of us have not received our allowances since September 2017,” the PRO noted.

In an interview with Citi News, yesterday, Gadafi said efforts by the association to draw the Ministry of Health’s attention to the matter has only attracted some promises of remuneration without action.

“We have gone to the ministry on several occasions and they keep on giving us assurances day in and day out but it has gotten to a point where we no longer know what to do.

“They have given us a promise that they have now compiled the data and we are all hoping that before the month ends nurses’ trainee will receive their money but when it fails we the national executives will decide on the next line of action,” the PRO said.

Meanwhile, the PRO the Ministry of Health, Mr Robert Cudjoe says the allowances would be paid by the end of this week.

“We were expecting Controllers and Accountants General to release the November and December allowances but this time around there is this platform which all institutions are supposed to get their releases from and unless the monies have been released through that platform, there is no way we can get that money,” he said

According to him, that has been one major contributing factor to the delay of the payment of nurses’ trainee allowances.

“The money is ready and we hope that by the close of this week, they should have their monies sitting in their accounts,” Mr Cudjoe assured.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]