The Ghana Nurses and Midwives Trainees Association says it is cautiously optimistic about assurances by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia that an amount of GH¢177 million is to be released to clear arrears of nursing trainee allowances.

The Vice President, who is also the flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2024 election, speaking at an event to mark International Nurses Day in Accra on Tuesday, announced the release of some GH¢177 million to the Health Ministry by Thursday, May 16, 2024, to pay 13 months allowances [in some cases] owed to nursing trainees across the country.

“This Thursday, the Controller is transferring GH¢177 million to the Ministry of Health to pay the nursing training allowances.

"So I have also alerted Dr. Okoe-Boye to be on standby when the money hits the Ministry of Health account, they should move it quickly to the accounts of the nursing trainees so that they will have their allawa. It will drop, by the grace of God.”

The nursing trainee allowance, which has been in arrears for months, was reintroduced by the Akufo-Addo administration after it was abolished.

But speaking to Starr News, the president of the association, Pascal Adombillah said while the association welcomes the news, they remain cautiously optimistic.

“…We’ve had a lot of assurances, I’m not doubting the fact that the Vice President is saying that the allowance will be cleared because these are monies that are being owed.

"I think that as government and then-presidential candidate [Nana Akufo-Addo] have seen how things were and have restored it [allowance], they should be able to live up to the task and make sure that the Nurses and Midwives Trainees are not only promised but have what is due them.”