Veep defends gov't's decision to withdraw trainee allowances

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has strongly defended government’s decision to withdraw teachers and nurses’ trainee allowances.

Speaking at the Nalerigu Nursing and Midwifery College and the Gambaga College of Education at Nalerigu in the Northern Region, where he jointly inaugurated members of the Tertiary Education Institution Network of the NDC, the Vice President said the withdrawal has not only increased enrolment but also enabled government to re-invest the money in infrastructure and equipment to enhance teaching and learning.

Mr Amissah-Arthur informed members of the TEIN that the NDC as a Social Democratic political party believes in education as the only way of unleashing the God-given talent of everybody and not a privileged few. It is for this reason that “Putting People First” is one of the four pillars underpinning the NDC’s 2016 manifesto.

He therefore urged them to live by the ideology of the party and take their training very seriously.

The Patron of the Nalerigu Nursing and Midwifery College branch of TEIN, Kwaku Agyeman Duah, thanked government for the numerous infrastructural projects it has undertaken in the college. He said they have improved teaching and learning tremendously.

Vice Chairman and Director of Elections of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo swore in the executives and charged them together with their members to work hard for the victory of the party in the December 7 election.

The Principal of the Nalerigu Nursing and Midwifery College in the Northern Region, Valentine Ayambah, has appealed to government to put in place necessary arrangements to enable graduate nurses work outside the country.

According to the Principal he said the quality training received by Ghanaian nurses has made them important people internationally and this will not only earn the country foreign exchange but will also further enhance their skills.

He also recommended to government to consider the Licensed Nurses Assistants the right to partake in the national service rather than wait to be employed by government.

Mr. Ayambah however, called on government to reconsider the payment of allowances to student nurses as the allowances paid to the nurses are their rights.