NPP intended to scrap trainee allowances in 2009 – Fifi Kwetey

The Transport Minister has alleged that the New Patriotic Party in 2009 planned on completely removing the nurses’ training allowance.

According to Fifi Kwetey, the NPP has no moral justification to empathise with the nurses as documents available to the NDC indicates that the NPP had similar intentions of scrapping the allowance as part of its policy priorities for 2009.

A portion of the document dated June 3, 2008, and signed by Abraham Odoom the Deputy Minister of Health under erstwhile President John Kufuor’s government reads:

“Trainee allowances to new entrance to the Diploma programmes in various trainee institutions would be abolished. Allowances to continuing students in Diploma programmes would also be faded out.”

The NPP is yet to respond to his claims.

President John Mahama recently reiterated government’s decision to restore the allowances of nursing trainees.

He said a technical committee set up to review allowances for nursing trainees has recommended payment of an abated allowance with a possibility to migrate them onto the Students Loan Scheme.

READ ALSO: Restoration of Nurses allowance a political gimmick – Bawumia

Addressing trainee nurses as part of his five-day campaign tour in the Brong Ahafo region, he said: “the committee recommended that since we are yet to amend the law to put our nursing and midwifery students on the students loan scheme, we should also put them on the allowance.”

The government scrapped the allowances to remove the restrictions on admission to the various training institutions. This was in order to give more students the opportunity to gain admissions into these institutions.

However, the scrapping was met with much resistance from some students, the Trainee Teachers Association of Ghana (TTAG), and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT).

This compelled the president to reverse his decision.

The flagbearer of NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has subsequently promised his government would restore the allowance if he is given the mandate in the general election.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said it has proven beyond doubt that it has the capacity to run the affairs of the country if given the nod again this December.

Speaking at the second in the series of press conferences to “set the records straight”, the Transport Minister, Fifi Kwetey said the party, unlike the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who is peddling lies just to get power, has the right candidate who can be trusted.