Coronavirus: Akufo-Addo extends incentive package for health workers

To motivate health workers in the fight against the deadly coronavirus, President Akufo-Addo has announced an extension of the incentive package for all frontline health workers to the end of the year.

This is in the face of heightened fears over a second wave of the deadly coronavirus pandemic in the country.

“I am happy to announce that the incentive package for health workers has been extended to the end of the year. This means that all health workers will pay no income taxes for the months of October, November, and December” he said in his 19^th address on coronavirus to the nation on Sunday evening.

Ghana has recorded an increase in its active cases within the past three weeks from 398 to 1,156 as of Monday, November 9, 2020.

Again, all frontline health workers, as defined by the Ministry of Health, will continue to receive the additional allowance of fifty percent (50%) of their basic salary per month, for the months of October, November, and December” he added.

Earlier in April, president Akufo-Addo announced an allowance of 50% of the basic salaries for all frontline health workers.

In addition, he promised a three months tax holiday, which was later extended from August through to September.

Reacting to the directive, President of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr. Frank Ankobea had said the reinstatement of the incentive packages will encourage frontline workers to continue making sacrifices.

Lockdown freebies

During the lockdown in March, the government absorbed water and electricity bills for consumers from March, April, and May

The government intervention came on the back of complaints that a greater portion of homes in the country did not have running water, which undermined the World Health Organisation safety protocols of handwashing under running water.

In April, the government in response to the needs of industry and a section of the public announced an electricity relief package for Ghanaians.

It includes subsidies for businesses and free electricity for those who consume below 50 kilowatts.

The President at the time indicated that “the government will fully absorb electricity bills for the poorest of the poor.”

He explained that “for all lifeline consumers, that is free electricity for persons who consume zero to 50 kilowatts a month for this period.”

According to the Finance Minister, that initiative cost the government GHC 1.02 billion.

A release from the Sanitation Ministry in September extended the reprieve to the end of the year.