Members of the Upper East Regional chapter of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) have called on the leadership of the Association to expand its Electoral College to enable nurses of all categories at the grassroots to exercise their franchise.

According to some Professionals of the Association, the numerous challenges they faced them was because they were taken for granted by delegates and leaders for far too long as their welfare and living conditions had not improved

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga, prior to the GRNMA’s national election slated for November 25 to 29, some of the members said the expansion would afford them the opportunity to vote wisely.

Mr Albert Azanoore, a Senior Nursing Officer, said the kind of democratic process that existed in the Association was “The brain behind our many problems, I want a system where all duly registered and dues paying members have the opportunity to vote for leaders they trust can move our Association forward.”

The Officer, who is a member of the Association in good standing, insisted that the expansion of the Electoral College would have new people to manage them at the national level for the next four years.

Mr Salama Tonu, a Peri-Operative Nursing Officer at the Regional hospital, said the welfare of members was important, “When you look at our Association, leaders are not interested in the welfare of members, the perception of the general public is that nurses are highly paid meanwhile that is not the situation because our leaders fail us in the negotiation process.”

He said the GRNMA national positions were not property of individuals, and should therefore not be circulated among the old executives, and urged delegates to vote for aspirants who could negotiate for better conditions of service for them.

“The situation, where executives keep moving from lower positions to higher ones, and also hold positions for several years in the Association breeds corruption. Such people are likely to cover corrupt acts. There should be a limit to which members can hold executive positions,” Mr Eliasu Musah, a Senior Staff Nurse told the GNA.

Madam Charity Zahaga, a Paediatric Nurse in the Bawku West District on her part, described as “heart-breaking” the challenges nurses, especially from the Region faced in accessing the Association’s hotel in the Greater Accra Region, and blamed it on leadership failure.

She said “We have hotels, building levies are deducted from our salaries every month, yet 50 per cent payment is demanded from members before they are offered accommodation. Even with that, when managers of the hotels realize you are a nurse, you are denied access even if there are empty rooms. Members of the public rather enjoy these facilities.”

The positions to be contested in the Association’s election include; the President, which is contested by Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, the incumbent General Secretary and Dr Adelaide Maria Ansah Ofei, while the First Vice President position is between Mr Kwame Adinkra Amo, the incumbent Second Vice President and Mr Samuel Alagkora Akolgo, the incumbent Assistant PRO and Mr Daniel Attah-Tuffour and Mr Anthony Agamba are both eyeing the Second Vice Presidency Position.

The General Secretary position is contested by Mr Reuben Aren-Eng Azie and Mr David Tenkorang-Twum, while Mr Michael Narh, Madam Mabel Kissiwah Asafo and Mr Anthony Sopaal are contesting for the Assistant General Secretary position and Mr Joseph Wolimmor Krampah and Mr Douglas Adu-Fokuo are both vying for the Public Relations Officer (PRO) position.

Mr Philimon Gyapong and Madam Rejoice Afi Ocloo are seeking the Assistant PRO position; Mr Tirah Haruna, Madam Margaret Ohenewah Yeboah and Mr Moses Rebertson Anyigba are going for the National Treasurer position, while the Assistant National Treasurer position is contested between Madam Haphsheitu Yahaya and Madam Irene Mensah-Jacobs.