The abated allowance package for trainee nurses, which was recently reintroduced by the Mahama administration, is a “pittance,” flagbearer of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has said.

The withdrawal of the allowance has been a subject of political debate between the governing National Democratic Congress and the NPP. The presidential nominee of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo has repetitively promised to reinstate the allowance package for nurse trainees as well as teacher trainees should he win the 2016 elections.

In the heated political debate, the Ministry of Health issued a statement to say: “A Technical Committee set up by President John Mahama to review the issue of nursing students' allowances has recommended the payment of an abated allowance with a possibility to migrate them onto the students’ loan scheme.

“The payment, which will amount to about GHS150 a month, is aimed at supporting 34,500 students who are currently pursuing various levels of health professional training across the country,” Health Minister Alex Segbefia explained in the statement, adding: “The payment amount would serve as a bridging mechanism pending the amendment of the Students Loan Trust Act, to enable students in non-tertiary health training institutions access loans to support their education.”

Addressing residents of Adabokrom, in the Bia East constituency, on the second day of his tour of the Western Region, Nana Akufo-Addo reiterated his promise to restore the allowances in full, saying: “Today, however, President Mahama has seen the light and is also saying he is going to pay the allowance of nurses, albeit it in the form of some pittance. We want the full restitution of allowances that are due the teachers and trainee nurses. This should not be about propaganda.”