Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has announced the Government's plan to introduce a 20 per cent incentive on the basic salaries of health and education workers who accept postings to deprived and underserved areas across the country. This initiative aims to encourage professionals to serve in communities where their services are urgently needed, addressing the challenge of workers declining assignments to underserved parts of Ghana.
According to Ghana News Agency, the President made this announcement during his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Upper West Region at a Free Primary Health Care durbar at the Fiano Health Centre in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District. He explained that the incentive is part of several measures to improve conditions in deprived districts. The Fair Wages Commission has been tasked with identifying these districts, and health and educational workers who accept postings to these areas will receive an additional 20 per cent of their basic salary as an incentive. The process is underway, and the incentive will take effect once the necessary approvals are completed.
President Mahama further highlighted efforts to improve living conditions in every district by constructing roads, expanding access to water and electricity, and enhancing public services. Additionally, the Government is providing essential equipment to health workers to enable them to perform their duties effectively, as demonstrated by the handover of medical items at the durbar.
The President emphasized the importance of health as a crucial asset and advocated for protecting health through lifestyle choices and social relationships. He reiterated the Government's commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage, ensuring every Ghanaian has access to affordable healthcare. Under his administration, health insurance coverage has increased from 60 per cent to 76 per cent of the population through the National Health Insurance Scheme.
President Mahama also discussed the Free Primary Healthcare Programme, which offers completely free basic healthcare services at various levels, including CHPS compounds, health centres, and polyclinics. The programme, launched in Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region, aims to cover all 261 districts of Ghana by the end of 2028. Currently, 135 districts have been reached, and the first phase is expected to complete by the end of this year.
The Free Primary Healthcare Programme focuses on both curative and preventive care, providing treatments for common illnesses such as malaria, typhoid, and diarrhoeal diseases free of charge, thereby bringing healthcare directly to the citizens' doorsteps.