Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as Napo, and the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has announced a significant policy proposal aimed at elevating nursing and midwifery education in Ghana.
Speaking during a campaign tour at the Komfo Anokye Nursing and Midwifery Training College in Kumasi, he disclosed that the next NPP government under Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia plans to transform all diploma-awarding Nursing and Midwifery Colleges into degree-awarding institutions.
This initiative, inspired by the NPP government’s successful conversion of diploma-awarding Teacher Training Colleges into degree-awarding institutions, aims to elevate the professional value of trainee nurses and midwives.
Upon implementation, students graduating from these institutions will do so as degree holders, a move that promises to enhance their professional status and improve their service conditions.
Employment opportunities for graduates
Addressing the trainees, Dr. Opoku Prempeh assured them of immediate employment opportunities after their training. He highlighted the government’s Agenda 111 initiative, which involves constructing hospitals across the country, as a significant source of jobs.
NAPO noted that the completion of these hospitals, slated for June 2025, will create over 70,000 positions for nurses and midwives, addressing concerns about unemployment in the health sector.
Trainee allowances and policy continuity
The Vice-Presidential Candidate cautioned against a return of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to power, asserting that such a shift would lead to the cancellation of trainee allowances. He reminded the audience that the NPP government restored these allowances after the NDC had previously abolished them.
Additionally, he accused the NDC of abandoning ongoing projects initiated by the NPP, citing the halting of the President Kufuor-led Eurojet hospitals in 2008 as an example.
He warned that the NDC might discontinue the Agenda 111 hospitals if given the chance, undermining progress in healthcare delivery.
A vision for enhanced healthcare training and delivery
Dr. Opoku Prempeh emphasized the transformative impact of upgrading Nursing and Midwifery Colleges.
By aligning with global standards and offering degree programs, the initiative would not only improve the quality of healthcare training but also position Ghana’s nurses and midwives competitively in international job markets
A strategic appeal to future healthcare professionals
The Vice-Presidential Candidate’s message was clear: the NPP is committed to advancing the professional and economic welfare of Ghana’s trainee nurses and midwives.
The promise of degree-level education, enhanced job prospects, and policy stability forms the cornerstone of this commitment.
As the December 2024 elections draw near, this policy proposal positions the NPP as a party focused on improving healthcare education and delivery while securing the future of trainee nurses and midwives across the country.
