Ashanti Region contact tracers abandon job over allowances

Contact tracers numbering over 100 in the Ashanti Region have laid down their tools over allowance disparities.

The health workers said they decided to embark on the action since June 2 over slashed allowances, which authorities have failed to address.

The men and women combing through the region to search for potential covid-19 carriers say their allowances range between GHc 250-GHc 1,600 depending on their metropolis, municipality, or district.

The group explained that contact tracers in Kumasi Metro were given GHc1,050; Suame, GHc704; Bosomtwe, GHc300; Sekyere East Ghc250, Obuasi Ghc1600, Old Tafo Ghc600 etc “for a whole month worth of work”.

“We are currently on strike until our grievances are addressed with regards to the amount we are supposed to receive for work,” Convenor for the Coalition of Contact Tracers in the region, Bernard Agyemang, told theghanareport.com.

He lamented “unreasonable slash” from the earlier GHC 150 announced by President Nana Akufo-Addo to GHc 70 per day in some districts.

Mr Agyemang said they had informed district health directorates and the regional health directorate but the response was that what they had been given was what the figures had been sanctioned by the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

In a letter addressed to President Akufo-Addo, the group said the country currently had over 10,201 total cases with 1,653 newly confirmed between the period “we laid down our tools”.

“In effect, it means some 16,530 contacts are not being followed which has the tendency of increasing our cases by some 33,060. With all these disturbing possible situations, it’s very surprising that no one is saying anything or responding to us,” the group said.

Meanwhile, the total national caseload has increased to 10,353 as of Friday, June 12. Recoveries has also increased to 3,824 with 44 deaths.