‘I’m not Controller and Accountant General’ – NPP man on whether trainee nurses’ allowance has hit accounts of MoH

Awal Mohammed, Head of Public Affairs at the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has refrained from confirming whether the Controller and Accountant General’s office has released GH¢177 million to the Ministry of Health for the payment of nursing trainee allowances.

Speaking on TV3’s New Day on Friday, May 17, Mohammed stated, “I am not the Controller and Accountant General,” when asked if the funds had been transferred to the Ministry of Health’s account.

This development follows an assurance of payment from Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, at the International Nurses Day event in Accra on May 14, 2024.

Dr. Bawumia announced that the government would release GH¢177 million to the Health Ministry within 72 hours to settle the allowances of trainee nurses.

This promise was made in response to a question posed by a final-year trainee nurse during a youth engagement in the Bono East region.

“I wish to assure the nursing trainees that by Thursday this week, the Controller [And Accountant-General] is transferring an amount of GH¢177 million to the Ministry of Health to pay the trainee allowances,” Dr. Bawumia had stated.

Despite this assurance, when pressed for an update on the release of the funds, Mohammed who doubles as NPP Communicator could not confirm its status.

He reiterated, “I don’t know that for a fact at the moment but what I’m telling you is that he [Dr. Bawumia] says the money will be transferred yesterday [Thursday, May 16].”