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A total of three thousand two hundred and ninety four (3294) nurses and allied health professionals have received financial clearance for employment by the Health Ministry.

A statement released on Wednesday and signed by the Public Relations Officer at the Ministry, Tony Goodman stated that the employment of the nurses would “enable the Ministry of Health augment the staffing positions of various health facilities.” 

According to the Health Ministry, 97 Staff Nurses, 31 Staff Midwives, 2,333 Enrolled Nurses, 599 Community Health Nurses and 234 Allied Health Professionals are to be employed. 

The statement comes two days after over a dozen nurses were arrested for protesting near the Flagstaff House.

The protest by the nurses  and 15 teachers on Monday was as a result of concerns over their unemployment.

In 2015, hundreds of concerned unemployed nurses from across the country picketed at the Flagstaff House to express their frustrations.

The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Iddrisu and a Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Victor Bampoe intervened and promised them their recruitment was due on October 23 but nothing changed.

Later, about 500 more threatened another demonstration in Tamale for the same reasons.

With increased industrial action taken by public service workers over unpaid salaries, the Finance Minister has requested the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) to effect the payment of their salaries.

“All facilities are to ensure that, staff to be engaged have their documents processed early and placed on the Mechanized Payroll to enable the Controller and Accountant – General’s Department effect payment of their salaries in time to reduce the incidence of arrears to be paid to staff,” the statement added.