Wa, April 02, GNA - Management of Wa Regional Hospital in the Upper West Region has dismissed 30 of its workers due partly to the increase in the minimum daily wage from 13,500 cedis to 16,000 cedis. The management contended that the action would not only affect the staff position, but also retard progress of work in all departments of the hospital.

Dr Felix Ahorsu, Medical Director of the hospital who confirmed the action in an interview with the GNA at Wa said, the management spent about 30 million cedis on workers salaries, social security and income tax without any corresponding increase internally generated income. He said increase in the daily minimum wage would be a burden on the hospital's finances "hence the decision to lay them off."

The Medical Director said some security men, drivers, most of the cleaners, and ward attendants had to be sacked.

Mr Yussif Tanko, Hospital Administrator said they had to lay them off because they were all paid from internally generated funds but it was not forthcoming.

He explained that the hospital generated about 60 million cedis from its resources between December 2005 and February this year, while their monthly emoluments stood at 30 million cedis adding; "This is not cost effective."

Some of the affected workers expressed dissatisfaction on the action taken by the management.