Hundreds of personnel of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) are grappling with severe financial hardship as prolonged salary delays continue to leave many workers unpaid more than a year after assuming duty.
The growing frustration among affected staff has triggered calls for urgent government intervention, with workers warning that the situation is taking a heavy toll on their livelihoods, morale and ability to effectively carry out their responsibilities.
Investigations indicate that many personnel recruited into the organisation have gone without salaries for approximately 14 months despite reportedly serving in district, municipal and regional offices across the country.
The prolonged non-payment has left numerous workers struggling to pay rent, cater for their families, support their children’s education and meet healthcare expenses.
Some affected personnel say they have been forced to depend on loans, borrowed funds and assistance from relatives simply to report to work each day.
“We have served the nation diligently despite the difficulties. Some colleagues travel long distances to work every day using borrowed money, while others have accumulated debts simply to survive,” one worker lamented.
Beyond the salary concerns, many personnel have also reportedly not received official staff identification cards, creating uncertainty about their employment status and raising questions about administrative procedures within the organisation.
Sources further disclosed that several validation exercises intended to facilitate salary processing were initiated but later cancelled, deepening frustration among workers awaiting resolution of the issue.
The situation has sparked concerns among governance and public administration observers, who warn that the welfare challenges facing personnel could negatively affect the effectiveness of an agency responsible for responding to disasters, floods, fires and other emergencies nationwide.
Workers are now appealing directly to President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of the Interior and NADMO’s leadership to expedite the payment of outstanding salary arrears and provide clarity regarding their employment status.
They are also calling for the immediate issuance of staff identification cards to all duly recruited personnel to eliminate uncertainty and restore confidence within the organisation.
Despite the challenges, affected workers insist they remain committed to serving the country but say the prolonged delay in salaries has imposed significant economic and emotional strain on them and their families.
As pressure mounts, stakeholders are urging authorities to outline a clear plan to resolve the backlog and address concerns affecting personnel at the heart of Ghana’s disaster response system.
