-Seeks refuge at Finance Ministry to escape Nursing Student’s Anger
What was meant to be another attempt to project the NPP and Dr, Bawumiah’s campaign as being more concern about nursing students’ welfare than their opponents, suffered a paralysis following a brutal confrontation by a student nurse who shook the Vice President from his slumber.
In a surprising turn of events, a courageous nursing student, Jariah Ayew Abdul, from Techiman Krobo Nursing Training, took the Vice President by storm with a direct question regarding the long-overdue payment of their allowances.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was left speechless as the student, in her final year of training, boldly demanded answers about the unfulfilled promise of restored allowances.
Despite the Akufo-Addo administration boasting about reinstating nurse and teacher trainee allowances, Jariah Ayew Abdul revealed the harsh reality of students not receiving their rightful dues, causing immense financial struggles for those relying on the payments for various expenses, including school fees.
When are we getting our allawa? Since I started my school, since first year, I have not gotten my allawa until now and I am in my last semester now and some of us are not able to pay our school fees. So my question is, when are we getting our allawa”, she said after vice president took a dig at former President John Mahama.
The mini drama unfolded after the Vice President’s campaign train made a stop to solicit for votes from the students and the youth, hoping to use the allowance policy as bargaining chip.
During the ‘Bawumia Youth Connect’ program, designed to garner support from students and youth, the Vice President faced a moment of truth as the student’s question exposed the failure to deliver on commitments.
Dr. Bawumia, caught off guard, could only promise to consult the Ministry of Finance upon his return to Accra to address the allowance issue. With the incident capturing widespread attention on social media, the spotlight has shifted to the government’s track record on fulfilling promises.
The vice president earlier in his address, took a swipe at the former president for cancelling the allowance. He had indicated the NPP acted as the savior and restored the allowance adding Mr Mahama who is seeking a come as president cannot be trusted to keep paying the allowance.
“When my opponent was in government he abolished the nursing training allowances and we said we will restore the nursing training allowances and we have restored the nursing training allowances. Can you trust my opponent with nursing training allowances? They cannot”, Dr Bawumia said.
But after taking the heavy punch from the young student at the event where many students and youth had gathered to listen to the vice president, the flagbearer of the NPP could not be categorical to give a timeline when the allowance is going to be paid.
Instead, Dr Bawumia said he will consult the Ministry of Finance when he returns to Accra to abreast himself with the matter.
“I think that, that is the question I will take to the Ministry of Finance. I wasn’t sure where you were with your allawa but I think that I will check with the Ministry of Finance immediately I return and I will make sure they pay your allawa if you have not been paid,” now humbled Dr Bawumia said to the unexcited crowd.
The Mahama administration cancelled the payment of allowances to both nurses and teacher trainees because it said the policy had outlived its usefulness.
The government said the policy was introduced many decades ago to entice young people to enter into the institutions for training. At the time, enrolments was very low unlike now that people allegedly have to even pay bribe before they are admitted.
At the time, government said instead of keeping the allowance, which was introduced by Ghana’s first President Kwame Nkrumah, he was cancelling it for these students to go for student loan.
It promised to use these funds to build more health facilities so they can be employed quickly after school.
As the debate on unpaid allowances continues, it serves as a reminder of the gap between political pledges and tangible actions, leaving many questioning the credibility of campaign promises.
Amidst the political rhetoric and blame games, the unresolved issue of unpaid allowances highlights the disconnect between policy implementation and the real needs of students striving for a better future.
As the election season approaches, the demand for accountability and transparency in fulfilling commitments echoes louder than ever, urging leaders to match their words with meaningful actions.