The Deputy Finance Minister, Charles Adu Boahen, has said the government has set aside Gh₵80 million to pay health workers at the front of Ghana’s Covid-19 fight.
Responding to questions in Parliament 1 July, Mr Adu Boahen, however, said that the Health and Finance Ministries were still compiling data on which of the workers deserve the incentives, a reason payment has delayed.
“I want to reassure the house that adequate provision has been made for this incentive package within the Covid-19 Alleviation plan. In fact, we have set aside an amount of approximately Gh₵80 million for this package,” the Deputy Minister said.
President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced the incentives for frontline health workers in April when Ghana recorded the initial Covid-19 cases.
Aside the exemption from tax payment, the health workers will enjoy a daily allowance of Gh₵150, payable to those undertaking contact tracing and an insurance package of ₵350,000. Also, an additional allowance of 50% of their basic salary per month for a April, May and June.
However, in an address to the nation on 28 June, President Akufo-Addo announced a three-month extension of the incentive package. He added in the televised address that all health workers will pay no income tax in July, August and September.
“All frontline health workers, as defined by the Ministry of Health, will continue to receive the additional allowance of 50 percent of their basic salaries for the three months,” he added.
Mr Adu Boahen says once the Health and Finance Ministries complete their reconciliation exercise, the health workers will be paid.
