Korle-Bu nurses appeal to government over delayed salaries
Junior nurses at the nation’s premier hospital, at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, on Wednesday appealed to government for the release of their delayed and overdue salaries.
The nurses, who were employed in 2012, have not received their salaries to date.
A petition signed jointly by Abdulsalam Mohammed, Chairman of the Aggrieved Nurses and Executive Members, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the delay in their salary arrears range from 12 to 20 months.
“This petition is to state our utmost dissatisfaction and to present our case, grievances and concern as clear as possible for immediate action to be taken by the appropriate authorities.”
It said the number of junior nurses at the Hospital ranges from 400 and 600 adding that this notwithstanding, all their colleagues employed within the same period in other hospitals have been paid.
“It is important to state quite clearly that, we have all been issued with appointment letters, a letter of contract for that matter, and we have all assumed duty and have been working diligently and punctually, contributing our quota to the health service delivery in the country in spite of all challenges we are facing.
“To imagine our painful situation, is to ponder on the high cost of living in Ghana, the cost of feeding upkeep, transportation, and rent cost and communication bills,” the petition said.
“We have no allowance or motivation incentives, junior nurses like us are denied accommodation at the Korle-Bu Nurse’s Flats; hence we are forced to seek for accommodation at our expense.
“The most painful aspects is when we are sick and are to access health care within the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital; we are also expected to take care of the full cost of our care,” it said.
“We can’t imagine why essential service providers could be treated this way.”
The group said several petitions dated September 18, 2012, May 14, 2013, June 10, 2013, August 1, 2013, and September 9, 2013 sent to key stakeholders such as the Authorities of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the Ghana Registered Nurses Association, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, the National Labour Commission, the Office of the President and the Speaker of Parliament; have been in vain.
“In line with the above, we strongly demand our salaries be paid by September 30. Failure to meet our concerns will lead us to embark on an industrial action,” the petition said.
Source: GNA