Health Ministry Declares Zero-Tolerance On Nursing School Admission Extortion

The Ministry of Health has declared a strict zero-tolerance policy on extortion within nursing school admission and recruitment, warning that perpetrators will face severe sanctions. Head of the Health Training Institutions Unit at the Ministry, Tony Goodman, said the policy forms part of broader reforms to safeguard the credibility of admissions and protect the public from fraudulent syndicates.  

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Mr. Goodman said the Ministry is working with law enforcement agencies to "fish out" persons who defraud unsuspecting applicants. "The Honourable Minister for Health is interested in having a proper and stress-free system. So, it started with the introduction of this online portal where you can sit in your house and apply for your nursing admission through your mobile phone. He also said, 'Let's give them allowances timely,' and all of these things were introduced," he noted.  

Mr. Goodman said investigations by the police and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) have already led to several arrests. Some suspects have been arraigned in court. "One of the things he [Health Minister] actually talked about is the credibility of admissions we do. Persons who say that I got admission because I paid money. So, all of these things were removed. We followed every process and made sure that until the person is qualified, you cannot admit that person," he said.  

"Every process along the way, the Ministry has been part of it because we can't compromise on the quality of the students who come out to take care of us. So, that is what we have done, and I can say on authority that this is one of the things that have actually saved the situation." The Ministry says BNI and police-led investigations will continue throughout the academic year.  

Mr. Goodman cautioned the public against paying bribes or engaging third-party middlemen.  
"Genuine recruitment processes do not require financial inducement," he stressed. "We would monitor. This academic year, we'll make sure that anybody who goes beyond our remit or the rules we have set for ourselves.

Immediately you do otherwise, it means that you have betrayed this number of people here, and the punishment must be meted out to you to serve as a deterrent to others. So, that is what we are doing. We can't have a banana republic. Everybody must obey rules and regulations," Mr. Goodman added.  

He also entreated heads of nursing training institutions to adhere to official intake numbers.  
According to him, the Ministry will ensure "trimming of admissions" so that training standards remain uncompromised and graduate numbers align with national budgetary allocations.

"Sustenance will come with punishments. As we continue to punish, as we continue to let people know that what they are doing is not right, others will follow... We will make sure that the gains we have chalked will be sustained, will be maintained by making sure that periodically we provide training," he said. The Ministry last week received investigative reports on two principals of nursing training schools who have been interdicted for over-admissions and running unauthorised programmes.

By: Anita Oppong Yeboah