They will have to be paid, and they can be paid – Austin Gamey on nurses and midwives’ salary

Labour consultant Austin Gamey says the government has the capacity to pay salary arrears owed to unpaid nurses and midwives, urging restraint as pressure grows over months of unpaid work in public health facilities.

His comments come amid increasing agitation among a group of nurses and midwives under the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, who say they worked for almost a year but were paid for only one month.

The group has described the situation as cruel and demoralising, warning that it is affecting patient care. They have accused the Health Ministry of breaking promises and making selective payments.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, Mr Gamey said the issue should not be explained solely as a lack of funds, stressing that government now has a clear responsibility to address it.

“I think the issue about money may not be entirely the case. It could be a very faint part of it, but to be honest with you, it’s an obligation now,” he said.

The labour consultant said unpaid public sector worker issues were not new but noted that Ghana should have moved past such situations.

“Having been in government before and having faced similar issues before, and it has been all over all these years, but I think we’ve come a long way not to be repetitive of some of these things again,” he noted.

Mr Gamey said the nurses and midwives will eventually receive their arrears and encouraged calm.

“They will have to be paid, and they can be paid,” he stated.

He expressed confidence in the government’s ability to raise the needed funds, referring to leadership at the highest level.

“I strongly believe that government can afford to raise the money to pay them, particularly the kind of President we have, who is quite empathetic about working people’s concerns,” he said.

Mr Gamey appealed to the nurses and midwives to remain patient and avoid escalating the situation, even as frustration continues to rise…CONTINUE MORE READING>>>