Fallout from NABCO : Deliberate perpetuation of illegality

Our media space has been polluted and highly charged by the positives and the fatal negatives of the yet to be launched Nation Builder's Corp (NABCO) which is booked to be officially launched on 1/05/2018 to add up to the adhoc and failed youth employment targeted policies like YEA, GYEEDA, Better Ghana Management Services, YESDEP etc.

It is not surprising to see this government which manifesto that won it power was titled "CHANGE, an agenda for Job" struggling hard to implement pseudo employment policy whether it would stand the test of time or not after all the mantra was employment and not a sustainable employment.

Of critical importance to me about the seven(7) NABCO modules is the "Heal Ghana" with the main objective recruiting qualified newly trained diploma and degree health workers who have completed their rotation/internship to go and work at a paltry monthly rate of GHC700 for a 3year contract period.

I have heard some people trying to justify by throwing all sort of unsustainable argument. Cardinal among them is the pathetic point that whilst newly qualified health workers are waiting for their clearance they can take advantage of this to get some monthly remuneration; the question is why should a trained health worker even stay in the house for a year in the name of clearance?

Are our leaders not aware of their period of completion hence taking proactive measures to secure the clearance on time before completion of their rotation/internship instead of the reactive approach of government securing clearance after series of bloody picketing by these helpless and dedicated newly trained workers whose services are much needed by our motherland with questionable nurse to patients ratio.

Respectfully financial clearance which is just writing of letter for approval should not be a stumbling block impeding the employment of vital staff for even 2months, this is not a rocket science.

The contract period we are told is 3years, if not another scam and untruth being perpetrated on Ghanaians by their leaders why would you like to sign a 3year contract with someone who can be available for just a maximum of 1year?

If newly trained health workers really have 1year to wait for their clearance why should they be engaged for this long? In the year 2010 as a newly trained CHN our result was released by NMC in mid-April and by mid-May, we were posted and started work on 1st June; what has happened to this wonderful arrangement, can't it be revisited?

As a country, we know how to do right things but intentionally do the wrong ones to the detriment of the vulnerable ones, the institutional memory is always there to guide us, governance is a serious business.

Reading through the 1992 constitution of Ghana, article 24(1) states that "Every person has the right to work under satisfactory, safe and healthy conditions, and Shall receive equal pay for equal work without distinction of any kind" This constitutional provision is reechoed in labor act of 2003, act 651 stated in Part IX (section 68) that "Every worker shall receive equal pay for equal work without distinction of any".

If our laws are such emphatic about equal pay for equal work wouldn't the custodian of these laws be perpetuating illegalities on us by implementing this discriminatory policy?, why should two qualified General Nurses working in the same ward with the same job description, the same risks, and being regulated by the same body withdraw different salaries at the end of the month with one receiving less than 50% of what his/her colleague receives in the name of a shambolic Nation Builder's Corp.

Can you imagine two Disease Control Officers or two field Technicians with same qualifications, job descriptions, job risks and working in the same facilities taking different salaries at the end of the month, if this is not a palpable breach of our constitution and our laws then I don't know what else could be. If there is anything that can compromise the harmonious coexistence in the workplace and irreversibly ruin the morale of health workers then this is certainly one.

What happens to the social security contribution of these young, vibrant newly trained health workers, what would be their fate after the 3years if they are still not gainfully employed and appropriately remunerated, how would they be receiving these monthly "stipends"? the usual "table top" nature which usually delay for months as we are witnessing with the YEA and it's allied programs, is it going to be like the farcical reintroduction of the nurses trainee allowance which is paid at will without any formula nor assurances to the extent that trainees are owed more than 3months arrears and still do not even have a hint of when they would be receiving their meagre allowance. What level on the single spine pay policy are these elegant newly trained health workers going to be placed under this NABCO "Heal Ghana"?

Politics of honesty should always be an integral part of our leaders and those who aspire to lead our country; 2016 manifesto of NPP Chapter 1 (A STRONG ECONOMY MATTERS)

Item number I has a subheading "A record of performance", item number 21 of this heading states that "Nurses and Health Assistants are not being posted after completion of their courses" and sort to promise posting for them, is it the posting pledged in the manifesto that we are going to witness as the NABCO? Furthermore, Chapter 10 (HEALTH) of the same manifesto has under its item (I), 7 guiding principles that the NPP government would follow to strengthen the Health system which the fourth guiding principle is "Addressing Health disparities in allocating resources and motivating health workers" ; if this is the implementation of these laudable policies which saw the populace voting massively for the elephant in 2016 then we are doomed because this policy would be a serious demotivating factor.

This "Heal Ghana" module will introduce a very serious apathy in an already troubled healthcare sector if care is not taken. Am not surprise to see the GRNMA PRO writing in support of the policy because it does not have any effect on them nor their members, its members are all gainfully employed and enjoying their salaries under the various levels of the single spine pay policy, am however very happy and beamed with life and hope to see NAHSAG and GMTA come out clearly to condemn this toxic policy which their members are the target group.

It is an embarrassment the way our leaders run our nation with adhoc measures that have always proven deficient and inconsistent with the problems on the ground. I invite all well-meaning Ghanaians to look beyond partisan politics and kick against this policy and call on government to rather quicken the clearance process within days or ahead of time to give our newly trained health workers an immediate, befitting and decent jobs that are well paying as well as securing their future.

Shaibu Issifu

Concerned Health worker

[email protected]