The National Youth Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has apologised on behalf of the Mahama-led administration, on an earlier decision to cancel teacher and nursing trainee allowances.
George Opare Addo admitted that the decision by the then John Mahama administration was “unpopular.”
He explained that the decision was taken after the former NDC administration upgraded all training colleges to tertiary institutions. He also stressed that the reason does not justify government’s decision to scrap the allowances.
He said “the NDC government was spending GH¢950 on teacher trainees. And we were looking at issues of equity since they were upgraded to tertiary institutions. So we wanted to migrate them unto the student loan trust fund.”
Adding that “everybody has the right to change his mind, so there’s nothing wrong if former President Mahama believes the decision was unpopular. If he comes he will restore it.”
Mr Opare Addo passed these comments during a ‘Youth Debate’ on Asempa Fm’s Ekosiisen program on Monday 17, August 2020. He also used the opportunity to apologise to all the trainees across the country.
Meanwhile, the former Minister of Education now running mate of the NDC mentioned barely a week ago that, the party never cancelled teacher trainee allowances but rather replaced it with student loans.
According to Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, the decision saw a sharp increase in the number of students who enrolled in training colleges that year.
But the National Youth Organiser of the NPP, Henry Nana Boakye who was on the same show accused the NDC of inconsistencies in the position of Mr. Mahama on the payment of the allowance prior to the 2016 elections and ahead of the December polls.
He alleged that NDC’s flagbearer is simply engaging in deceptive politicking.
“In 2016, Mr. Mahama swore heaven and earth that he will never restore the trainee allowance even if it will cost him the elections.
“It is therefore strange and unfathomable that someone who said there is no sense in paying trainees allowance would make a u-turn, after President Akufo-Addo had restored the allowance, to say that he will continue with the payment of same.
“This is clearly deceptive politics that has assumed a fearsome crescendo,” Nana B added.
Follow Us
I’m Deborah Aba Narkoah. I’m an avid reader, writer and public speaker.
 has apologised on behalf of the Mahama-led administration){kind=link}