Stick to elections rules and regulations

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Nurses and Midwives in the Upper East Region have called on all stakeholders in this year’s general elections to play their respective roles according to the rules of the game to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections. The Regional Chairman of the of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association, (GRNA), Mr. Samuel A. Akolgo who made the call a forum to mark international Nurses Week Celebration at Bolgatanga said it was important for Ghanaians to tread cautiously in order not to plunge the nation into chaos. “Politicians must be reminded that even if they win an election in a war torn country, it will be extremely difficult for them to implement their manifestoes and that is why tolerance and genuine commitment to peace must be the guiding principle for all”, he said. The theme for the celebration was “Nurses and Midwifes advocating for peaceful election”, and had in attendance representatives of political parties who all pledge to pursue a peaceful campaign to keep the unity of the region in particular and the nation as a whole. Touching on the contribution of nurse to health delivery in the region, Mr. Samuel Akolgo commended members for contributing to the health delivery system and making basic quality healthcare accessible to all citizens. While commending the Regional Health Directorate, heads of training institution for their contribution to the improvement of the health sector, he bemoaned the lack of basic things such as proper demonstration rooms as well as teaching and learning aids in training institution which he said poses a threat to the track record of excellence and called for a redress. Mr. Akolgo also encourage members be mindful of the Patient Charter and uphold the highest level of professionalism and patient dignity in the discharge of your duties at the various stations. The Regional Chairman of the GRNA also complained about what he said was some unfair labour practice and abuse of the rights of its members adding that this infringement are in contravention of the labour law and industrial relations in Ghana. Some of these infringement he said included denial of annual leave, unequal opportunity for members to develop their human resources by way of training and retaining of workers, therefore, appealed to managers of the health system to critically look at the situation. “We as an association have over the years overlooked some of these infringements because the leadership also appreciates the difficulties managers to go through trying make do of the few nurse and midwives. This time round we will resist any attempt to disregard our rights as workers”, he said. He disclosed that the association in the region has a plot of land at Pusu-Namongo at a cost of GH c 11,000 for a regional hostel project. The Upper East Regional Director of the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice, (CHRAJ), Mr. Kenneth Adabayeri who also spoke on the role of nurses and midwives in caring and advocating for a peaceful elections said in order to ensure a peaceful elections, nurses and midwifes as an enviable group would have to live above partisanship and stick to their pledge of non-discrimination and care for the sick and wounded. -End-