President Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has acknowledged the efforts being made by health workers across the country in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at a meeting with the leadership of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) at Jubilee House on Tuesday, the President stated that the purpose of the meeting was “to let you know that I appreciate, and the country appreciates very much, the work that you are doing, and to encourage you that, at this stage, more than at any time in your professional career, you will really be standing up for the people of Ghana in everything that you do.”
The President bemoaned the fact that, after 63 years of Ghana’s independence, the country has not done well in making readily available all the facilities required for the health workers to function.
He, nonetheless, assured: “On my part, and on the part of government, we will continue to see what we can do to meet you halfway, ease the issues that you have. I think you heard my broadcast the other day. I indicated the measures that we want to put in place to support you in the work that you are doing.”
Interventions
He outlined some interventions that have been put in place to support and motivate health workers during this crisis.
“Buses for nurses and health workers have started plying the streets of Accra; the allowances that are going to be paid to health workers are being worked out by the Finance Minister, and, very soon, in the course of this month, the first payments are going to be made,” he said.
He continued, “the daily allowances that are going to contact traces and all; all of those things are being done. But, above all, in crises of this nature, it is our spirit, our morale, our commitment to our country, to our society, that will determine the success or otherwise of our ability to confront this menace.”
Frontline workers
On the issue of which group constitutes “Frontline Health Workers”, President Akufo-Addo stated that “effort is being made on the part of government to arrive at an acceptable definition, and I think your input will be very necessary and required, so that we get a definition that makes sense for everybody and which addresses the issue of people who are also in the frontline, as it were, of dealing with this disease.”
