UNEMPLOYED ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL PLAN PROTEST OVER DELAYED POSTINGS

A group of unemployed allied health professionals in Ghana has announced plans to stage a protest due to continued delays in their official postings. These professionals, who completed their training and national service between 2019 and 2023, say they have been left in limbo despite repeated appeals to the government.

The Coalition of Unemployed Allied Health Professionals has expressed frustration over what they describe as prolonged neglect by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance. According to them, their numerous efforts to obtain financial clearance for posting have not been successful. As a result, many of them remain jobless and have been forced to take up menial work to survive.

The coalition revealed that they intend to picket at the Ministry of Health on September 16, 2024, as a way of drawing attention to their plight. They also raised concerns about the unfair burden of renewing their professional licenses every year, even though they have not been given the opportunity to practice.

This situation is not unique to allied health professionals. Similar frustrations have been voiced by environmental health officers, as well as graduate nurses and midwives from the 2020 to 2022 batches, who have also staged demonstrations in different parts of the country, including Tamale and Kumasi.

These ongoing delays in posting trained healthcare workers are seen as a significant issue, not just for the individuals affected, but also for the broader healthcare system in Ghana. The professionals are urging the government to act swiftly to grant the necessary financial clearances and ensure that they are integrated into the health workforce without further delay.