The Health Ministry has been given financial clearance to pay the allowance of 8,062 Diploma Nurses and Midwives who have not been paid since they started their mandatory service in April this year.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei-Asare, stated that the emoluments of the rotation nurses and midwives should be charged against the Compensation of Employees vote of the Ministry of Health in the 2019 Annual Estimates.

“The effective date of the appointed Diploma Nurses and Midwives should not be earlier than 1st April 2019. Arrears associated with this financial clearance should be paid in two equal instalments,” the press release read.

This clearance after the Coalition of Rotation Nurses and Midwives threatened on Monday to embark on a massive demonstration if the government does not pay their six-month arrears.

The nurses, drawn from across the nation, registered their displeasure over non-payment of their allowances since they began their service in April this year.

The Finance Ministry, therefore, charged the Health Ministry to ensure that all the nurses have their documents processed and placed on the Mechanized Payroll in time to enable the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department effect payment their salaries.               

 “By a copy of this letter, the Controller and Accountant General is requested to effect the payment of their salaries and make appropriate deductions of Social Security and Income Tax to SSNIT and the Domestic Tax Division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) respectively. Please note that the financial clearance expires at the end of 31st December 2019 and cannot be used thereafter,” the statement added.