Ashanti Regional Health Director criticizes political leaders for failing to employ trained nurses

The Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang has openly criticized political leaders for their lack of understanding and commitment to the healthcare system, particularly regarding the employment of trained nurses.

Dr Tenkorang argues that the current unemployment of trained nurses demonstrates a significant disconnect between political leadership and healthcare needs.

His remarks come after a group of unemployed graduate nurses and midwives from the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, took to the streets on Monday (9 April) to demand postings and protest against the government’s delay in granting financial clearance for their permanent job placements.

“If you need them, those you’ve trained you will employ them,” Dr. Tenkorang stated, emphasizing that the failure to employ nurses from the 2020, 2021, and 2023 cohorts is a clear sign of political neglect.

“If you train a nurse and keep the nurse in the house for three years, the nurse will never return as a good nurse. Because you will eventually become rusty, you are doing a great disservice to yourself…If you are committed, then you will be committed to the people.”

The Health Director who was speaking at the launch of the 2024 Regional Nurses and Midwives Week Celebration at Ejisu on Thursday (30 May), urged the leadership of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRMNA) to take a proactive stance in advocating for better conditions of service and consistent employment opportunities for their members.

“The Association is supposed to do this, so we changed the service condition. If the system is unstable, it cannot be resilient. If we can build a resilient system, we will have to provide an environment so that people will stay and work throughout their lives, which is what others are doing,” he noted.

For his part, the Ashanti Regional First Vice Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) Philemon Adu Berempong raised concerns over the inadequate quota for study leave and limited promotion opportunities affecting nurses across the country.

According to Berempong, the slots allocated for study leave each year are insufficient, preventing many nurses from furthering their education and advancing their careers.

He called on the Ministry of Health to address these issues urgently by increasing the study leave quota and ensuring that nurses who have pursued further education receive appropriate recognition and promotion.

Source: Dailymailgh