Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, (NDC) John Dramani Mahama has changed his position on allowances for trainee nurses and teachers as he attempts a move to clinch the Presidency in December.
The former President, now flagbearer of the largest opposition party in the country in 2014 scrapped allowances of teacher and nursing trainees in the country with the explanation that it was not a sustainable exercise hence not expedient to continue paying such allowances.
The former President is quoted as saying at the time that it was “better to lose on principle than win using falsehood”.
Mr Mahama has however beaten a retreat and is promising to continue paying the said allowances the Akufo-Addo-led administration restored shortly after winning the general elections.
Speaking during one of his interactive digital conversations dubbed ‘Let’s talk with JM’, Mr. Mahama said his government will not cancel the allowances should he be elected as President in the upcoming elections.
He, however, noted that his government will improve the student loan and will eventually migrate all students onto the fund.
“You know that it was a very critical issue in the run-up to the 2016 elections. What I had said was we were going to migrate the health trainees and educational trainees to the student loan scheme. Now what I have said going up to the 2020 elections is that, we are going to let the status quo remain. It means that we are going to continue paying trainee allowances, but we will improve the student loan and adapt it so that it serves the same purpose as the allowances,” he said.
He added that “So we will increase the amount under the Student Loan Trust [Fund] and then instead of giving it to you as a lump sum, we will give it to you at regular intervals so that you continue to use it for the things you use it for. So, once we have done it and it’s attractive and it’s good enough for you, then we will now do the migration onto the student loan scheme. So for now, if I become the President on January 7, 2021, we will maintain the status quo. It means that, we will continue to pay the allowances and when we have improved and made it attractive for all students to go for it, then we will now do the migration onto the student loan scheme. So that’s my position on it as of now.”
abcnews.gh
