GANTA, Nimba – The administration of the Ganta United Methodist Hospital has retired 12 employees of the hospital with 23 employees more to follow. The ceremony was held in the chapel of the hospital on September 2 and brought together personnel of the hospital and relatives of the pensioners.

Fredrick Mantor, the hospital administrator, who spoke with a group of journalists following the ceremony, said, “We are retiring some long-serving employees to give way to a workforce that will be more efficient and active.”

He said the plan to retire members of the workforce was meant to be a gradual process to allow for smooth transitioning. “Today, we are starting up with the first 12, which we feel have exhausted all their energy and need to rest, then the other 23 who have some little energy will follow later,” Mantor said.

Fredrick Mantor (with cap) in the parade during the just ended International Day of Nurses. Photo: Arrington Ballah

The hospital administrator said donors and other partners who evaluated their work were concerned with nurses who were involved in leisure activities during visits, such as “people in offices doing nothing” and those “watching movies on DVD players.”

The hospital is not just terminating the services of the employees but also providing severance pay, each according to the number of years spent in service at the institution. Mantor added, “For every one year [they will receive] one month of their current gross take home pay.”

In gratitude to the hospital administration, the spokeswoman of the pensioners, Nora Johnny, said that the Ganta United Methodist Hospital has impacted her life and the lives of her other colleagues immensely and as such should be highly recognized.

“I am very grateful to God today for me and other friends to come to the end of our services in the Ganta Methodist Hospital,” Johnny said. “One thing I’m so happy about is that we are going with honor, well and strong.”

She advised remaining employees to work with dedication and commitment, adding “in all that you do, put your trust in God.”

The Ganta United Methodist Hospital is one of several hospitals in the country. It has delivered basic healthcare services to the people of Liberia since 1926. It initially started as a clinic through the funder of the Ganta Methodist Mission Station, Dr. George W. Harley. Neighboring towns in Guinea also benefit from the strategic location of the hospital. The hospital is owned and operated by the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Featured photo: Arrington Ballah