Government has begun the payment of ‘abated’ allowances to trainee nurses across the country.
A statement from the Health ministry announcing the payment said “The untaxed amount is One Hundred and Fifty Ghana Cedis (GHC150.00) per student for three months making a total amount of Four Hundred and Fifty Ghana Cedis (GHC450.00) per student”.
The allowances was suspended for close to two years. But government says it has reviewed the decision following the advice of the technical committee looking into the migration of the financial support into a loans scheme.
The government has rejected claims that the release of the allowance is an inducement for votes as Ghana goes to the polls next month December 7.
GOVERNMENT HAS STARTED PAYMENT OF THE ABATED NURSES TRAINEE ALLOWANCES
The Ministry of Health on July 21, 2016 announced government’s decision to pay an abated Nurses Trainee Allowance as a stopgap measure to the introduction of Students Loan Scheme in the various Nursing Training Colleges.
The Nursing Colleges have begun payment of these allowances through the School’s Finance Offices due to the locations of the schools and the amount involved.
The untaxed amount is One Hundred and Fifty Ghana Cedis (GHC150.00) per student for three months making a total amount of Four Hundred and Fifty Ghana Cedis (GHC450.00) per student.
This was a recommendation by the Technical Committee set up by the HE President to review the Nursing Trainee Allowance Policy.
The payment as mentioned earlier is to serve as a bridging mechanism pending the amendment of the Students Loan Trust Act, to enable Students in Non tertiary Health Training Institutions access Loans. All accountants are advised to pay the amount in full without any deductions.
Any person found doing otherwise will be dealt with. The Ministry of Health will continue to seek the outmost interest of our trainee nurses.
TONY GOODMAN, HEAD, PUBLIC RELATIONS
Source:Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM/Kwame Danso Acheampong
