President Akufo-Addo has announced an extension of the incentive package for health workers from September to December.
This means that health workers will continue to enjoy a tax waiver on their income for the next three months.
The president announced this on Sunday (8 November) in his 19th address to Ghanaians on measures being taken against the spread of the coronavirus.
“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.
“Again, all frontline health workers, as defined by the Ministry of Health, will continue to receive the additional allowance of 50% of their basic salary per month, for the months of October, November and December,” he announced.
President Akufo-Addo first announced the three-month tax holiday for health workers at the beginning of April 2020.
He also expressed worry about recent hike in Ghana’s active cases in the past three weeks as he advised the public to strictly adhere to the COVID-19 protocols.
“In recent weeks, however, we have observed a gradual change in the trajectory of the virus, with an increase in active cases from the 398 cases recorded three weeks ago, to 1,139 active cases, as at Friday 6 November 2020,” he said.
“The total number of deaths now stands at 320, a great majority of them, still, with underlying illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic liver disease and asthma.”
He added: “Now more than ever, we have to adhere to mask wearing, handwashing, the use of sanitizers, and social distancing protocols that have become a part of our daily routines, and which has ensured that we do not impose, all over again, the restrictions we are seeing in other parts of the world.
“In order to help arrest this new threat of rising infections, the government is going to reaffirm the steps that have served us well so far. We are enhancing the measures of tracing, testing and treatment, ie, the 3Ts.
“In addition to this, we will continue to limit the importation of the virus, embark on the strategic, controlled easing of public gatherings, enhance public education and information, and continue to provide relief and support to individuals, families and businesses.”
Background
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) had earlier asked government to reinstate the tax waivers that were given to frontline health workers at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in Ghana.
In April this year, President Akufo-Addo announced allowances for all frontline health workers; specifically, 50% of their basic salaries. In addition, they were given a three-month tax holiday, which was extended in August to cover the months of July, August and September.
Speaking at the GMA’s 62nd annual general conference, under the banner of “Managing a Pandemic in Ghana – The COVID-19 Experience”, the president of the association, Dr Frank Ankobea, said the reinstatement of the package will encourage frontline health personnel to continue making sacrifices.
Watch the full address below:
Fred Dzakpata
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