Students from all health training collages in the Upper East Region on Friday hit the road not to demonstrate but pour out their gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the restoration of their allowances.
The over 500 trainees, mostly first years, took over the streets of Bolgatanga amid dancing and singing.
They also displayed placards with messages some of which read: ‘Nana Show Boy’, ‘2020 We shall Maintain You’, ‘Action President’ and ‘Thank you Mr President for keeping your Promise’.
President Akufo-Addo had promised during the 2016 electioneering campaign to restore nurses and teacher trainees’ allowances, which were scrapped by the previous government.
But government in September honoured its promise by launching a programme to have GH¢450 paid monthly to each trainee.
Student nurses from nursing training colleges, community health training schools, midwifery and health assistant training schools in the Upper East Region were heavily represented during Friday’s float.
Some of the jubilant nurses, who were part of the street float, spoke to the media while sharing the importance of the allowances to their studies as well as the reduction of burden of their parents.
They urged government, especially the President, to continue with his good works.
Interacting with MG’s Tanko Mohammed Rabiu, most of them said since the allowance started coming two months ago, they have not worried their parents for money either for books or for keeps.
Spotted among the jubilant trainees was a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Filson Awankua, who is a Regional Chairman-aspirant.
He thanked the president for fulfilling his promise, maintaining that as a parent, he is relieved from giving out money for hand outs and chop money because the allowance has replaced that.
He therefore called on the students to give out their best in school as a clear sign of their appreciation to the President.
According to him, the NPP government will continue to roll out policies that directly impact lives of Ghanaians especially northerners.
The float was peaceful.
By Rabiu Tanko Mohammed|3news.com|Bolgatanga, U/E Region|Ghana