A group of about 200 graduate nurses today stormed the premises of the head office of the Health Ministry in Accra to stage a protest to demand the lifting of the ban on recruitment of nurses.
The angry nurses were seen wearing red arm bands but without placards to register their displeasure.
According to Gold News’ Coffie Emmanuel who was at the scene, the nurses complained that they have been home for more than two years without a job after completing their training in 2015.
Majority of the frustrated nurses were spotted holding bags that contained items such as toothpaste, toothbrush, pomade head brush, make-ups, blankets among others, an indication they were prepared to spend the night in the open at the Health Ministry if their request was not granted.
The nurses who claimed they number close to 9,000 across the country said the immediate past National Democratic Congress government gave them clearance to be recruited noting however that the new government suspended the recruitment process.
A letter written by the Minister of Health, Kweku Agyeman-Manu, and directed to all agencies under the Ministry said: “I (minister) refer to our earlier letter with reference number HRHD/DIR/01/17/07 dated 31st January, 2017. I wish to request that you suspend all recruitment activities for the 8,634 nurses and other health staff until further notice.”
“The suspension is not a cancellation but to allow the Ministry of Health to finalize all issues related to financial clearance. Kindly take steps to inform all your officers accordingly. You will be duly informed as soon as the final clearance is granted.”
The ministry is yet to review the directive.
Police Reaction
Heavy gun wielding policemen numbering about 20 were called by an official from the Health Ministry to dismiss the angry nurses who were not armed.
According to the leader of the police team that visited the scene, the nurses violated the Public Order Act by not informing the police prior to their protest.
He therefore, advised the nurses to leave the scene peacefully but as at the time of filing this report, the nurses were still adamant to obey the instruction given by the police.
President of the coalition of ‘Unposted’ Community and Allied Health Nurses, Mireku Hammond, in an interview with Radiogold905.com said: “the Health Minister, Kweku Agyeman-Manu has been rude to us. He is unconcerned about our plight, the last time we meet him he threatened he will join us if we decide to demonstrate. His action and conduct tells us that he is unwilling to listen to us.”
By: Coffie Emmanuel
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