The Deputy Finance Minister, Charles Adu Boahen says government has set aside ₵80 million to pay health workers at the front of Ghana's Covid-19 fight.

Responding to questions in Parliament Wednesday, the Minister, however, said that the Health and Finance Ministries are still compiling data on which of the workers deserve the incentives, a reason payment has delayed Adom News’ Abednego Asante Asiedu reports.

“I want to reassure the house that adequate provision has been made for this incentive package within the Covid-19 Alleviation plan.

"In fact, we have set aside an amount of approximately ₵80 million for this package,” the Deputy Minister said.

President Akufo-Addo announced the incentives for frontline health workers in April when Ghana recorded the initial Covid-19 cases.

Aside the exemption from tax payment, the health workers will enjoy a daily allowance of ₵150, payable to those undertaking contact tracing and an insurance package of ₵350,000.

Also, an additional allowance of 50% of their basic salary per month for a April, May and June.

However, in an address to the nation on June 28, President Akufo-Addo announced a three-month extension of the incentive package.

He added in the televised address that all health workers will pay no income tax in July, August and September.

"All frontline health workers, as defined by the Ministry of Health, will continue to receive the additional allowance of 50 percent of their basic salaries for the three months," he added.

Mr Adu Boahen says once the Health and Finance Ministries complete their reconciliation exercise, the health workers will be paid.

“The ministry of health and the ministry of health are together, compiling the data and doing the necessary reconciliation to determine the particular health sector workers who are eligible or designated as frontline workers and hence eligible for this 50 percent salary package. As soon as it is completed the payment will start.”