Gov’t sets aside GHS80M for frontline health workers- Deputy Finance Minister

A Deputy Minister for Finance, Charles Adu Boahen yesterday disclosed that the government has set aside eighty million Ghana cedis (GHS 80,000,000.00) for the payment of 50% allowance on the basic salaries of frontline healthcare workers as part of the COVID-19 Alleviation Plan (CAP).
Charles Adu Boahen revealed that the Ministries of Health and Finance were still compiling data on the health workers eligible for the allowances. He was responding to an urgent question on the floor of the House on behalf of the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho Central Benjamin Komla Kpodo, sought to know from the Minister when the designated health workers will be paid the Covid-19 special allowance of 50% of their basic salaries as promised by government and approved by Parliament.
Charles Adu Boahen assured the House that adequate provisions have been made for this incentive package within the COVID-19 Plan.
The Deputy Minister said further, that the Ministries of Health and Finance are together compiling the data and doing the necessary reconciliation to determine the particular health sector workers who are eligible or designated as frontline workers and hence eligible for the 50 percent salary package and that payment will start as soon as it is completed.
It may be recalled that the President Nana Akufo-Addo in March 2020, announced incentive packages for frontline health sector workers as part of COVID-19 pandemic preparedness, readiness and response actions, including the special allowance of 50% on the basic salaries to designated workers when the pandemic was first recorded in the country.
In his 13th address to the nation on the pandemic on Sunday June 28, 2020, he extended the incentive packages for these health workers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic from three months to six months and noted they are meant to commend the health workers for their hard work during the pandemic and to also encourage them to do more in that regard.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com