The recent directive by the government to revoke appointments made after December 7, 2024 by the Previous administration regarding recruitment in the health sector has sparked controversy, particularly concerning nurses and midwives employed after December 7, 2024. The directive, issued by the Chief of Staff, has raised concerns about potential dismissals and the legitimacy of post-election appointments.
While the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) insists that its members have legitimate financial clearance, critics argue that some appointments were politically motivated.
Assistant National PRO of the GRNMA, Mr. Philemon Agyapong insisted that despite assurances from the Minister of Health, the association remains cautious.
“As an association, I don’t think we are out of the woods. We were expressing the needs and concerns of our members who were caught up in a situation based on the release by the Chief Director. However, the Minister of Health has come out to clarify some of these issues, and as we speak, there is calmness.”
“No nurse has gone home as we speak. We met the Minister right after that directive was released, and we had a meeting with him. He explained the details of that letter and the fact that nurses and midwives have their financial clearance as far back as June 2024. In total, 15,200 nurses were given financial clearance to be posted into the health sector.”
Mr. Philemon Agyapong Assistant National PRO of the GRNMA
He further explained that government recruitment in the health sector follows a strict process based on financial clearance.
” If you don’t have financial clearance, it means you have not been budgeted for, and the government doesn’t have a provision for your salary. That is what has changed from the previous recruitment process where nurses could go to work, and it would take six months or even a year before they were put on payroll.”
Mr. Philemon Agyapong Assistant National PRO of the GRNMA
When asked about a potential strike, Agyapong reassured that the association has no immediate plans for industrial action, provided the government adheres to its assurances.
“We cautioned the government on their direction. We were advising them that if midwives, who are also youth of this country and have stayed home for four to five years post-training, were laid off based on an incomplete process, it would be very unfair. The Ministry has assured us that they will stick to the directive that nurses and midwives who went through due process and were given financial clearance are not supposed to go home.”
Mr. Philemon Agyapong Assistant National PRO of the GRNMA
Legitimacy of Dismissals
However, the Chairman of the NDC Council of Elders in South Africa Mr. Benjamin Quashie, presents a contrasting perspective. He argued that the directive issued by the Chief of Staff is justified.
“The legitimacy of these dismissals cannot be questioned because these individuals, we can say, were politically motivated in their employment. Now, when the Chief of Staff gave that directive, I am happy that everybody has indicated that it is not about people employed before or after December 7. But the fact remains that a government that lost an election after December 7 went ahead to issue employment letters.”
Mr. Benjamin Quashie Chairman of the NDC Council of Elders in South Africa
Mr. Quashie insisted that it is within the new administration’s right to review and nullify last-minute appointments made by the outgoing government.
”You cannot say that [former] President Akufo-Addo made a mistake, but you must also acknowledge that the new government has the right to assess whether these appointments were legitimate or not.”
Mr. Benjamin Quashie Chairman of the NDC Council of Elders in South Africa
He argued that the decision to scrutinize these appointments was not made arbitrarily but was based on findings from the government’s transition process.
“The Chief of Staff, Hon. Julius Debrah, doesn’t take decisions in a vacuum. I remember that he specifically asked for an assessment of the criteria used in employing people after December 7. What we saw during the transition period is what has informed this decision.”
“Look at the time frame, this is a government that lost an election after December 7, and then they go ahead to give people employment letters. And you expect the incoming government to adhere to those appointments and pay these individuals? Where is the money going to come from?”
Mr. Benjamin Quashie Chairman of the NDC Council of Elders in South Africa
The directive regarding recruitment in the health sector has sparked a lot of reactions from the GRNMA.
While the GRNMA insisted that its members should not be affected since they received financial clearance, the NDC’s Mr. Benjamin Quashie argued that any politically motivated appointments must be reviewed. The coming weeks will determine the full impact of the directive, particularly when payroll assessments are made at the end of the month.
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