Nana Yaw Sarpong, Deputy General Secretary and Political Aide of the United Party, says he does not understand why the government continues to pay allowances to nursing trainees when those funds could instead be channelled into improving hospital infrastructure and essential medical facilities.
According to him, the allocation being made in the 2026 Budget could serve the country better if it was directed towards retooling major health centres that continue to struggle with basic challenges.
Speaking on TV3 on November 18 and monitored by NewsDesksGH, he said,
“The allocation that is going to the nursing trainees. I have had a very strong stand against it.”
“I do not see why we should pay allowances to these nurses when they are in colleges.”
Mr. Sarpong recalled that the policy was introduced for a specific purpose and at a time when the sector faced a severe staffing gap.
He explained that there was previously a significant shortage in the number of nurses available compared to the patient population, which required such an incentive to attract more people into the profession.
“I think that the initial concept for the payment of nursing trainee allowances by President Kufuor was because at the time people were not very much interested in going to the nursing schools,” he said.
He noted that circumstances have since changed, making the allowance unnecessary in its current form.
“Now almost all the young ones when they’re in school want to do nursing because it is now attractive,” he noted.
According to him, the programme needs to be reconsidered entirely.
“I think this whole nursing training allowance should be dealt with.”
He further argued that the government’s allocation of GH₵474 million in the 2026 Budget for the payment of nursing trainee allowances is money that could have been used better.
“These same students will come from school and complain that there are no facilities and equipment for them to work with.”
“Meanwhile in a year we’re spending 474 million to pay allowances for free, free money.”
He further questioned why funding is not directed towards addressing well-known infrastructural challenges in major hospitals across the country.
“Have we looked at the aspect of retooling our hospital facilities. If you go to Korle Bu, Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, they’re still having issues with water. And this money is going into free pockets.”
