Health Ministry denies allegation of extortion for placement of newly qualified nurses and midwives
The Ministry of Health has denied the alleged extortion from unemployed nurses and midwives for placement.
It has cautioned the trainee nurses to desist from engaging anonymous or self-acclaimed officials under the pretext of facilitating their financial clearance at the Ministry.
Unemployed nurses and midwives have persistently criticized both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance for failing to grant financial clearance to secure permanent employment opportunities for them.
They have held a series of demonstrations and picketing at the Health Ministry whilst alleging that officials from the Ministry have resorted to demanding money from them before being employed.
Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, Isaac Offei Baah, reacting to the development in an interview with Onua News, discredited the rumour that officials of the Ministry are extorting money from the newly qualified nurses to assist with their placement.
He insisted that no official at the Ministry has been assigned to engage such acts, stressing that any nurse who has paid money to any official did so at his or her own peril.
“The Ministry distances itself from these practices, that whoever collects money from you, make sure to request for a receipt from the Ministry. If you are not able to get that receipt you don’t come and say that the Ministry of Health is charging,” he said.
There have been a lot of rumours spreading around that people are taking GHC10,000 and GHC8,000 before being recruited.
Mr Baah wondered why some people would think that the Ministry would demand money from someone who has attended school, paid fees and when it is time for him or her to be recruited then the Ministry would ask them to pay.
Touching on the 2024 recruitment portal for the nurses, the PRO indicated that the Ministry anticipates employing 15,200 degree, diploma and certificate nurses and midwives.
The portal, which was opened on Monday, August 5, 2024, according to him, has received an overwhelming number of trainee nurses accessing the portal which in a way has jammed the system.
He pleaded with nurses to relax as the Ministry is putting in place practical measures to resolve their issues and get every qualified nurse or midwife recruited and posted.
Mr Baah urged the nurses to accept the region and district that they will be posted to serve so that it will help ease the pressure on the portal.
He was quick to add that the 2024 financial clearance has nothing to do with the December 7 polls.
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