Trainee nurses at the various government health training institutions have over the past year and half not received their allowances promised them by government despite a bond agreement they signed.
According to the students, the bond agreement, �Ministry of Health Trainee/Fellowship Awardees Bond Form� signed between the Ministry of Health and them stipulated that GH�387 would be paid as allowance for students while they served the government after school for a stipulated period.
It also outlined sanctions which would be taken against students should the bond be breached by the beneficiaries.
The students said although they have so far delivered their part of the bond by adhering to the regulations outlined in the bond agreement, government was yet to make the payments promised them.
�They are supposed to pay us GH�387 per month for our stay at the institution but we have not received anything for the past 20 months,� one of the students said.
�The fees we are paying is increasing and yet we are not being given the allowance promised us, this is putting a strain on our parents,� another student said in frustration.
The students noted that they were tired of the promises they continue to receive from the Ghana Registered Nurses Association and the Ghana Nurses and Midwives Trainee Association, adding that the Ministry of Finance should step up its game and ensure the money is released as they have barely a year to complete their trainings.
Emmanuel Geyevo, President of the Ghana Nurses and Midwives Trainees Association, confirmed the information when DAILY GUIDE contacted him on the issue.
He said the association had held series of meetings with the Ministry of Health but all they get is �there is no money�.
He said, �The delay is because the Ministry wants to scrap the allowance for the trainee nurses but we told them to let those that are already in school to complete before the allowance is taken but up till now, we haven�t heard anything from them.�
Tony Goodman, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, in a response said the Ministry was not responsible for the release of the money. He directed this reporter to the Ministry of Finance to inquire why the money had not been released for the payment of the trainee nurses.
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