Unemployed Nurses postpone demo

The executive board of the Coalition of Unemployed Nurses and Midwives and the Ghana Nurse-Midwife Trainees’ Association (GNMTA) has called off their demonstration scheduled for today.

The coalition rescinded its decision after a dialogue with the Health Minister, Alexander Segbefia, his team and the regional operations commander of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) last week on the issue.

They have, however, given the health minister 22 days to resolve the issue or they hit the streets.

In a press release copied to DAILY GUIDE, the coalition pointed out that the decision to postpone the demonstration was arrived at based on a number of considerations during the dialogue with the authorities.

Among the number of reasons the coalition listed were that the sector minister had just assumed his position and was, therefore, less informed about the situation.

They also mentioned that the minister of health had assured the executives that the Ministry of Finance had given the go-ahead for the posting of all its members to the various health facilities to start work.

The release, signed by Marcus Sarfo, National Coordinator of GNMTA, also indicated that the ministry had assured them that the process for the payment of salaries was also being addressed.

“However, the minister could not be specific with the date for the posting but rather directed the Human Resource Director, Mr Arphul, through an internal memo dated June 26, 2015 that was witnessed by all the executives of the coalition present at the meeting to further instruct all health agencies to commence processes for posting immediately,” he said.

Mr Sarfo said although the executive board was not much convinced with the minister’s attempt to solve their plight, they have accepted to give him the benefit of the doubt and grant him some more time to solve the issue.

“Thus, the Coalition and GNMTA have come to a unanimous conclusion that our members cannot stay at home for more than three weeks.

Nonetheless, failure on the part of the minister will ignite the worse form of demonstration among other actions by all unemployed nurses and midwives in Ghana to register our displeasure and perpetual disappointment in the minister,” he added.