Walk the talk – Trainee nurses tell Mahama

National President for Ghana Nurse and Midwife Trainees’ Association, Akazee Godwin Asabire says eventhough President Mahama’s assurances to restore trainee nurses allowance is commendable, the government must walk the talk this time round.

“To say that the allowance is coming, we really appreciate it so much. If this allowance is really restored and paid to trainee nurses, we the national executive board wouldn’t be ashamed any day to march to the Flagstaff house and say thank you to His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama,” Asabire told Kasapa FM Wednesday.

New trainee nurses who are yet to be put on the students loan scheme will also be put on the cancelled nurses allowance scheme, President John Mahama announced Tuesday.

According to him, the technical committee which advised the government on the allowance scheme has suggested the placement of the trainees on allowance instead of a loan scheme.

Addressing some trainee nurses as part of his campaign tour of the Brong Ahafo region, the President said his government is deeply concerned about the welfare of Ghanaians and will not renege on their promises.

However, on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM Tuesday, the National President of the association said they need more than token promises for them to be happy about their plight since there are not yet any material evidence to show government has responded to their demands.

“Myself as the National President and all the National executive Board we were happy, but our happiness will not last. The reason why i said our happiness will not last is that ; if it is really true that they were restoring it, where are the documents to authenticate that the allowance is going to be paid?” he queried.

All things being equal, Asabire pleaded with government to fast track the processes and ease the bureaucracy involved saying “government must task the Ministry of Finance to submit the clearance to the Ministry of Health,” if indeed it’s going to be restored.

“We don’t want a similar incidence of what happened in 2012 elections where trainee nurses had to receive allowances on table top,” he said.