IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe has condemned the long-standing politicisation of trainee nurse and teacher allowances, describing it as a counterproductive policy undermining Ghana’s healthcare and education systems.
His comments follow the nationwide strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), which disrupted hospital services across the country.
Speaking on Channel One TV on June 14, Cudjoe argued that successive governments have indulged trainee nurses with populist policies for political gain.
He described the inconsistent handling of allowances, particularly the reversal of John Mahama’s cancellation by the succeeding government, as a prime example of political short-termism.
“How have we treated nurses during their training? We’ve pampered them,” he stated, warning that such political games have led to neglect in infrastructure and professional development.
According to him, resources used for allowances could have been better spent strengthening long-term service delivery by supporting qualified professionals.
Cudjoe further criticised both major political parties for sustaining this cycle of vote-driven freebies, which, he said, has come back to haunt the country amid current labour unrest.
His remarks come just after the GRNMA suspended their strike on June 13, following government assurances to reconsider delaying revised conditions of service to 2026.
