{"id":110146,"date":"2026-01-07T04:23:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T04:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=110146"},"modified":"2026-01-07T04:23:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T04:23:00","slug":"validation-failures-at-heart-of-nurses-and-midwives-pay-crisis-austin-gamey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=110146","title":{"rendered":"Validation failures at heart of nurses and midwives\u2019 pay crisis \u2013 Austin Gamey"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>3 Minute, 24 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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Labour consultant Austin Gamey has described the process that led to hundreds of nurses and midwives working for months without pay as an \u201cabysmal transitional process.\u201d<\/p>\n

He insists that failures in validation largely account for the crisis now playing out in the health sector.<\/p>\n

Speaking on Joy News\u2019 PM Express on Tuesday, Mr Gamey said he empathises deeply with the affected nurses and midwives, describing them as \u201cbrothers and sisters\u201d who are going through severe hardship after working for nearly a year and receiving only one month\u2019s salary.<\/p>\n

The comments come amid mounting pressure on government from a coalition of unpaid nurses and midwives under the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association. <\/p>\n

The group says its members worked continuously for 12 months in public health facilities but were paid for just a single month.<\/p>\n

They describe the situation as cruel and demoralising, warning that the prolonged neglect is killing morale and could undermine patient care across the country.<\/p>\n

Austin Gamey said he appreciates the difficulties the nurses are facing and believes government also understands the gravity of the situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd my younger brothers on the program, I appreciate the difficulties they are going through, and I empathise with them. I\u2019m sure government does in the same manner,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He stressed that government, as an employer, has a responsibility it cannot avoid, regardless of prevailing financial constraints.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that it\u2019s an obligation on the part of an employer, like the government in particular, not to shirk its responsibility. It will certainly pay our friends, no matter how tough the financial circumstances might be, they will be paid,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

Mr Gamey urged patience from the affected health workers, arguing that the situation is not a deliberate refusal to pay salaries. \u201cIt\u2019s about patience on their part,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

According to him, the core of the problem lies in how the nurses and midwives were absorbed into the system.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think part of the problem might come through the abysmal transitional process we went through in getting these brothers and sisters properly validated,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

He revealed that he had participated in meetings with unpaid health workers and officials in the health sector, where concerns about delays were openly discussed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I attended some meetings with some of the health sector people we work for that have not been paid,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mr Gamey also disclosed that the Health Minister himself has acknowledged the challenges and expressed frustration over the slow pace of the process.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the minister himself lamented, followed and through the process as much as he could, and every effort is being made to get those people paid to whom we even work for as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He rejected claims that the delay is linked to government deliberately avoiding the financial burden.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo clearly, it\u2019s not a deliberate thing. It\u2019s not because, as your chart clearly shows, that we have a huge cost on our hands, and so they will have to close their eyes and say there\u2019s no sun,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Austin Gamey maintained that payment is inevitable and assured the affected nurses and midwives that their salaries will be settled.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey will have to be paid, and they will be paid,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

While acknowledging the nurses\u2019 frustration, he called for restraint and understanding as efforts continue behind the scenes.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I have to say is that, whereas I empathise with them, I pray that they will be a little bit more patient,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

He also noted that advocacy efforts are ongoing within the nursing profession itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also heard the nurses at various platforms making rigorous efforts to get their colleagues paid. So it\u2019s not like nothing is being done,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mr Gamey described the situation as a collective challenge that requires calm and cooperation.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s a challenge, and all of us must be patient and go through it, and as much as we could, would push for them to be paid as quickly as possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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