President John Dramani Mahama has announced that professionals who accept postings to deprived and underserved districts will receive an additional 20 percent of their basic salary as an incentive.
Speaking at a Free Primary Healthcare Durbar in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District, the President said the measure is meant to address a long-standing challenge in which health professionals, teachers, civil servants and other public officers refuse postings to certain parts of the country.
“One of the measures we are introducing is an incentive for professionals who accept postings to deprived and underserved districts,” he said.
He said he has directed the Fair Wages Commission to identify all deprived and underserved districts across the country, a process he confirmed is already underway.
“I have asked the Fair Wages Commission to identify all deprived and underserved districts across the country. Health workers and educational workers who accept postings to those districts will receive an additional 20 percent of their basic salary as an incentive,” he noted.
President Mahama said the incentive will take effect once the necessary approvals are completed.
“That process has already begun, and once we complete the necessary approvals, the incentive will take effect,” he said.
Beyond the salary incentive, the President said government is working to improve living and working conditions in every district by constructing roads and expanding access to water, electricity and other public services, to make life easier for professionals posted there.
He said government is also providing health workers with the equipment they need to perform their duties effectively, citing the handover of medical items during the durbar as part of that effort.