Union commends Ministry of Health for its intervention

Wa, June 20, GNA - The National Students Union (NSU) has commended the Ministry of Health for acting promptly to calm down tempers on the impasse between students and the Principal of Tamale Nursing and Midwifery Training College.

The Union noted that by the action, the Ministry had helped save its image and had also encouraged the students of the College to continue with academic work without hindrance. A statement issued in Wa and signed by Mr Kipo Abdul Karimu, National President of the Union, pleaded with the Committee of Enquiry established by the Ministry to look into the matter to carry out its work diligently.

The Union urged the Committee to recommend the right action to be taken against any defaulting party in the matter. It also urged the Committee to give the students ample time to contribute to make its work smooth and balanced. The Union noted that while it was awaiting the Committee's findings and recommendations, it would also welcome responses from the Ministry of Health and other parties whose duty was to provide students the right conditions to study.

The statement, however, condemned the action of the Tamale Police for applying extra force on the students in an attempt to suppress them from carrying out their constitutionally enshrined rights. The Union advised the Police to be professionally guided in their operations so as to win the confidence of the people.

It noted that even though the students might not follow the Public Order requirements that did not give the police the absolute right to brutalise and harass them in their quest to present their petition to the Regional Director of Health Services. The swift responses from the Ministry of Health should tell the police that their action was uncalled for, the statement pointed out. The Union, therefore, pleaded with the police not to repeat such actions in the region or elsewhere in the country.

It called on the entire students' body of the college to remain calm and behave properly as they had always done while the right procedures were exploited to get the matter resolved.