Presidential hopeful of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has assured nursing trainees at the Jirapa Nursing and Midwifery College in the Upper West Region that he will restore their allowances when elected President, come December 7.
He also promised to restore the dignity that comes with the nursing profession.
Dr. Nduom was speaking at a gathering of nursing trainees and townsfolk during his recent campaign tour in the region.
The PPP leader told the students that delays in payment of salaries and allowances due nurses and medical doctors “is a shame on the current government.”
According to him, he purposely initiated the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) when he was the Minister of State in charge of Public Sector Reforms to deal with salary disparities.
But he said due to petty politics on the part of government, it decided to implement an aspect of the policy.
That, he said, was the cause of the constant impasse between workers and the state.
“Nursing and midwifery are noble professions in the world but in Ghana; they are not regarded by the state, a trend he intends to change if he wins the mandate of Ghanaians in the December 7 polls.
“At first, a nurse goes to bank smiling because he or she knows his or her salary and allowances have been paid but today, they go there, and its either nothing or the money has delayed. This is embarrassing to them. Just imagine the frustration. It is demoralising, I will restore your dignity,” he reassured.
He further assured the student nurses that better jobs await for them after school under a PPP government.
“PPP will look at problems facing you right from training to job acquisition. We will not just look at your allowance but your professional dignity will also be restored. If anyone promises you something, look at his track record,” he said.
Earlier, Dr. Nduom went to Nandom, where he told teeming party supporters to ignore lies being spewed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the PPP was not part of this year’s elections.
“That’s not true. It’s a lie. We have fielded 170 candidates across the country. Both parties know we are threat to them so they don’t want the PPP in the race. We are in the race. Don’t be deceived, we will be on the ballot paper,” he averred.
According to him, the Upper West Region has every reason to have its fair share of the national cake.
“Demand for development you have not been given. Only the PPP can give you that. Look at your living conditions and vote for change,” the astute politician urged.
“There are big people in government, I mean Members of Parliament (MPs), cabinet ministers, and influential government appointees from this region. What have they done for you? They should be changed. They’re deceiving people in Accra that they are constructing the Wa to Bolga road. It is a lie. Where is the road?,” Dr. Nduom asked.
Dr. Nduom later took his tour to the Northern Region where he held rallies at Tatale and Salaga North constituencies.
He called on the people and chiefs in these areas to vote for change.
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