Ghanaian Nurse based in the United Kingdom (UK), Gordon Kaati, has affirmed the assertion that employment abroad offers significant advantages compared to working in Ghana.
According him, he has worked in the Ghanaian health sector for 4years but has not been able to save as much as he has after working for just 3 months overseas.
He concedes that taxes payed in the western world are somewhat higher, however, there is still a greater chance to save significant amounts of money within the shortest interval.
“Per the system here. You are paid every hour. So obviously it paids more than it pays in Ghana. In most of the countries in Europe, America and other parts of the world, you are paid every hour and you are paid for overtime. In Ghana it doesn’t even matter if you decide to work for extra shifts, You are paid the same salary. But in UK if you decide to work for extra hours you are paid more. Obviously we pay more tax than we pay in Ghana. But I still make more money than in Ghana. I worked in Ghana as a registered nurse for almost 4 years and I can say that I have saved more money in UK within 3 months than I saved for 4 years in Ghana,” Gordon Kaati explained to the media during an interview on September 13, 2023.
He made a further statement that he considers his entire working period in Ghana wasted and nothing to write home about.
“I can say I have made impacts in my life when i moved to UK. Sometimes I feel like I have wasted all my years in Ghana,” the Ghanaian nursed based in the UK stated.
More Ghanaian nurses are in the process of securing visas to practice abroad, a situation most of them say is born out of poor working conditions in the country.
Over the past year, there have been increased cases of Ghanaian-trained nurses and other health professionals travelling outside the country.
A general nurse, who wishes to be known as Alawani, last month secured a job and visa to the United Kingdom. Prior to the new appointment, she had been practicing at a hospital in the Eastern Region for over seven years.
Asked why she chose to leave, she indicated that she has nothing to show for the years she has been working in Ghana as a nurse. She lamented the meagre salary, poor conditions of service, and risks nurses have to endure in Ghana’s health facilities.
Source: The Independent Ghana | Amanda Cartey