Former President John Dramani Mahama has provided an explanation for the cancellation of nursing training allowances should during his administration.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer stated that the decision was taken to enable the government gather enough resources towards the development of health infrastructure in the country.

Mr Mahama, while addressing students at the Sefwi Wiaso Nurses Training College, clarified that his government aimed to focus on building health infrastructure to accommodate more nurses upon graduation.

He acknowledged that it often took several years for newly graduated nurses to be posted to their assigned stations.

By investing in infrastructure, his administration sought to create more job opportunities for nurses and address the long waiting periods for postings.

“When we tried to explain the reason why we were replacing your allowances with student loans, people did not understand us. What we wanted to do was build more CHPS compounds, more hospitals, and more health facilities, more health centres so that when you come out you can get work to do that was our intention. But some people took political advantage of it and said they would continue to pay the allowances because they could,” he said.

“Today, I’m told that those in their 2nd year have never seen their allowances. My younger sisters and younger brothers, I’m standing on your behalf here to remind Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia that the students of Sefwi Wiaso Nursing Training College say that they are waiting for their allowances because you promised you could pay,”he added.