Some graduate unemployed nurses and midwives are demanding financial clearance from the government to facilitate their permanent employment in the health sector.

Graduates from various public universities and nursing training colleges took to the streets of Kumasi to vent their displeasure over their delayed postings.

The protest involved the 2020, 2021, and 2022 batches of unemployed graduate nurses and midwives.

Speaking to JoyNews, the President of the Graduate Unemployed Nurses and Midwives Association (GUNMA), Haruna Ibrahim, said they had been informed that the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance were holding discussions to address the situation, but all have proven futile.

“The message we got is they have been assigned to discuss our clearance. The next day, we saw a release from the Ministry of Health addressing what we describe as ghost officials at the Ministry of Health,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim further alleged that some individuals at the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance have provided financial clearance for some colleagues who are able to pay for their postings.

“At the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance, we think there are people there who are giving financial clearance and postings to some of our colleagues who can afford between 5,000 to 10,000. Immediately that money is paid, they get posted.

“We have colleagues who are working in the field and when you ask them, they say 'we did special posting',” he added.

Mr Ibrahim warned that if their demands are not met, the association will picket at the Finance and Health Ministries.

“After this, our clearance must be issued, otherwise our next action will be to sleep at the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance.

"We will bring our mats and clothes, and we will sleep there until our postings are given to us.”