The running mate to former President John Dramani Mahama, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has assured teachers of enhanced remuneration when the party returns to power after the December elections.

She also assured teachers and nursing trainees of innovative financial interventions, including increased training allowances and educational loan facilities, to facilitate their successful training.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang gave the assurance during separate interactions with trainee teachers and representatives of teacher unions at Gbewaa College of Education in Pusiga, and trainee nurses at the Bolgatanga Nursing Training College, during a campaign tour of the Upper East region. 

The former Education Minister indicated that the yet-to-be-launched NDC manifesto has a comprehensive action plan to proactively address the needs of trainee teachers and nurses.

“Our manifesto is of a different nature this time,” she said, adding that there are innovative policies that would enable the NDC government to build on its enviable achievements and do more for the teaching and nursing professions.

In addition, she said the new policy programmes in the manifesto, designed to enable Ghanaians to achieve their aspirations, have incorporated the views of the various teaching and nursing professional groups, as a measure to ensure all-inclusive governance.

“We need to work together by listening to one another. We need to be non-discriminatory, and we need to plan together,” she noted.

“Today, when your leaders ask me what we will do when we come to power, I also ask them, what do you want us to do for you? We want to arrive together, so we must do things together.”

Responding to questions from her audience on various concerns, including professional upgrading, recruitment, and maternity leave, Prof Opoku-Agyemang explained that as part of the policy measures to be pursued by the next NDC government, the teacher upgrading structure would be streamlined and enhanced to ensure fairness.

On distance education, the NDC running mate added that students who are currently exempted from government teacher recruitment would be offered alternative opportunities.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang stressed that maternity leave for teachers, nurses, and other professionals would be extended.

“Giving four months of maternity leave to women is in order,” the running mate concluded.