Unpaid Nurses Hit Street In K�si

A coalition of unpaid nurses and midwives will storm the streets of Kumasi this morning with a mammoth demonstration to pressure government to pay monies that are due them and other pressing matters. Asare Danquah Jefferson, National Coordinator of the group, claimed that they have not received the salaries and arrears due them for at least six to 19 months, thereby plunging them into severe economic situation. The irate nurses and midwives have, therefore, decided to hit the streets and demonstrate since that seems to be the only clear language that the NDC administration understands. In a release to the press, he said the police had given them the green light to demonstrate in a peaceful manner, adding that they would converge at the Kumasi Cultural Centre at 8:00am prompt. He mentioned the non-payment of salaries and arrears for a period of six to 19 months and payment of only three months� salary irrespective of the number of months of work, as some of the factors that had pushed them to demonstrate. Other factors that also influenced their decisions, he mentioned, were the non-payment of SSNIT contributions in all the number of years of work by government, devaluing of their salary at the time of payment and number of nurses working for two to six months without appointment letters. Mr Danquah Jefferson said his group would submit their petition to government through the Ashanti Regional Minister after the demonstration, adding that they would demonstrate in the other regional capitals of the country if government fails to address the concerns. The peeved group includes Registered General Nurses, Registered Midwives, Registered Psychiatric Nurses, Registered Community Nurses, Enrolled Nurses and Certified Community Nurses.