President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has extended by three more months the incentive packages promised all health workers in the fight against coronavirus.
The previous packages announced on Sunday, April 5 were for April, May and June with a 50 per cent allowance of basic salaries to be received from March in addition.
In his 13th update broadcast nationwide on Sunday, June 28, President Akufo-Addo announced that the packages will cover July, August and September as well.
“I am happy to announce that I have decided to extend the incentive package for health workers by another three months,” he stated.
Per this announcement, all health workers will pay no income taxes over the period while all frontline health workers, as defined by the Ministry of Health, will receive additional allowance of 50 per cent of their basic salaries for July, August and September.
Following the president’s announcement on Sunday, April 5, controversy erupted over who a frontline health worker was.
Even other professionals outside the pale of health regarded themselves as frontline workers
The back-and-forth delayed the disbursement of funds from the Ministry.
But President Akufo-Addo assured that this has since been resolved “and payments will be effected from the end of June”.
“I should reiterate that the insurance package for health workers is still in place.”
After announcing the extension of the incentive package, the president urged health workers to remain “professional” and “compassionate” at all times in the discharge of their duties.
“Every avoidable death, be it corona-related or not, is a tragedy,” he pointed out.
So far, Ghana’s cumulative case count stands at 17,351 in total. Among these are health workers.
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana