Government Commits to Trainee Payments, Infrastructure Plans
In the Bono East Region, during a Thank You Tour, President John Dramani Mahama announced that the government will begin paying nursing trainee allowances with arrears from January 2025. The decision, reversing the National Democratic Congress’s initial campaign stance, was included in the March 2025 fiscal policy document.
Addressing students at Kintampo Nursing Training College, Mahama confirmed that the Ministry of Finance has budgeted for the allowances, which will be disbursed monthly through the Controller and Accountant-General’s system alongside workers’ salaries. The system’s implementation has delayed payments, but arrears will be cleared once operational.
Mahama also outlined infrastructure priorities, including the construction of outer ring roads in cities like Accra, Kumasi, and Techiman, where a 54-kilometer project has begun with engineering surveys. He emphasized value addition to cashew and tree crops to industrialize the agrarian Bono East Region, aligning with the NDC’s 2024 manifesto.
The President highlighted fiscal reforms, noting the cedi’s 24.1% appreciation and reduced transport fares, thanking the Ghana Private Road Transport Union. He announced that 80% of the District Assembly Common Fund’s first-quarter release will go directly to regions, with strict Key Performance Indicators for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives.
Mahama stressed accountability, stating that annual evaluations of fund usage will determine whether local executives retain their positions. The initiatives reflect the government’s focus on education, infrastructure, and decentralized governance to drive economic recovery and regional development.