John Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), recently addressed the contentious issue surrounding the cancellation of nursing training allowances during his campaign tour.
Speaking directly to trainee nurses, Mahama clarified that the decision to cancel these allowances was made with the intention of prioritizing job creation for nursing graduates.
He emphasized that the policy change was not meant to undermine the welfare of nursing students but rather to redirect government resources toward improving employment opportunities within the healthcare sector.
Mahama outlined his plans to ensure that once nurses graduate, they have better chances of securing jobs in the field, which was the core focus behind the cancellation of the allowances.
“What is important for you is not the allowances, it is to get the jobs when you finish school. But somebody came and said he would pay the allowances. Unfortunately, it was 419. When he went to Techiman, it took a small young trainee nurse like you to say that you promised to pay us our allowances. I entered nursing training three years ago, I’m in my final year and for the three years I’ve been in school I have not received even allowance once.”
Mr Mahama said an NDC government is committed to jobs and will create a situation where as many nurses as possible can be employed immediately after they finish school.
“I’ll make you a promise when I come to the hospital we were building that has been abandoned by this government, we will continue them. When I come, to the agenda 111 hospitals they are building, I’ll continue and finish them so that we can create more space to able to absorb all of you when you finish school,” he stated.
