The Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Charles Adu-Boahen, has indicated that the government has set aside an amount of GH¢80 million to pay the 50% allowance promised frontline health workers.
He said that the Ministry of Health, alongside the Ministry of Finance, was compiling the data to determine the particular health sector workers who are eligible for the package.
“Mr Speaker, an amount of 80 million cedis has been set aside for that purpose. However, the Ministry of Health, alongside the Ministry of Finance, is compiling the data to determine the particular health sector workers who are eligible for the package.”
The Deputy Minister revealed this to members of the House, when he appeared to answer questions on the issue.
Mr Benjamin Komla Kpodo, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho Central, asked an urgent question about when the designated health workers would be paid the Coronavirus (Covid-19) special allowance of 50% of their basic salaries promised by the government and approved by Parliament.
It would be recalled that in April 2this year, President Akufo-Addo, in one of his televised addresses to the nation on Ghana’s preparedness to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, said that several packages had been put in place to motivate those risking their lives to protect the nation.
He indicated that an insurance package, with an assured sum of GH¢350,000 for each health personnel and allied professional at the forefront of the fight, had been put in place, with a daily allowance of GH¢150 being paid to contact tracers.
He also said that the government had also decided that all health workers would not pay taxes on their emoluments for the next three months, i.e. April, May and June.
In addition to these, all frontline health workers will receive an additional allowance of 50 per cent of their basic salary per month, i.e. for March, April, May and June, the President said.
Some of these promises have, including that of the free Ayalolo bus service, have been fulfilled, but that of the allowance 50% is yet to be.
However, the Deputy Minister said that the reason for the delay in the fulfillment of the promise stems from the challenge in determining those who qualify for the package.
“Mr Speaker, the challenge is to determine the eligibility and see who qualifies as a frontline worker, hence, the reason for the delay in the payment.”
He said there are a lot of health workers playing different roles, so proper care must be taken to identify which ones qualify for the package.
He said he can’t give a definite time as to when the monies would be paid, but it will be done as soon as they have the complete data. “The exercise is still ongoing, and payment will start as soon as it’s completed.”
The post GH¢80m set aside to pay frontline health workers appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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