Students of the Bawku Presbyterian Nursing and Midwifery Training College in the Upper East Region have expressed deep frustration over the continued closure of their institution due to the ongoing Bawku inter-ethnic conflict. They are calling for urgent intervention from the government, the Presbyterian Church, and school management.
At a press conference held on Monday, the President of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Akamah James, read a statement on behalf of the student body, highlighting their growing anxiety, disappointment, and fear for their academic and professional futures.
The college was officially shut down on November 22, 2024, leaving students uncertain about when academic activities would resume. Mr. Akamah emphasized that as future healthcare professionals, delays in their training directly affect the nation’s healthcare system, which is already in dire need of nurses and midwives.
“We have been in limbo, unsure of when we can continue our education and training,” Mr. Akamah said. “The delay not only threatens our personal aspirations but also the healthcare system, which is already in desperate need of manpower.”
The students noted that although the conflict in Bawku remains a concern, academic activities had previously continued even amid intermittent gunfire. They questioned why college management was now using the conflict as justification for keeping the institution closed, especially when the situation is reportedly stabilizing.
“There were times when school was in session even amidst weekly gunshots. Why then is the situation different now?” Mr. Akamah queried. “We are of the firm conviction that academic work can resume without hindrance.”
The students accused the college leadership, in collaboration with the Presbyterian Church, of using the conflict as an excuse to deny them their right to education. They demanded that if reopening was not possible, authorities should transfer them to another government institution within the Upper East Region so they can continue their studies without further delay.
Final-year students, in particular, expressed fear and anxiety as they prepare for upcoming licensing examinations, while their peers in other nursing schools across the country have already resumed academic activities for the second semester.
“Staying at home while others have resumed academic activities is a great fear for our future,” the SRC President emphasized.
In a passionate appeal, the students called on President John Dramani Mahama, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akando, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, and Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka to urgently intervene and facilitate the reopening of the college’s two campuses.
They warned that failure to act swiftly would severely jeopardize not only their personal futures but also Ghana’s broader healthcare delivery.
“We can’t wait for our future to be jeopardized,” the students concluded, urging the relevant authorities to listen to their concerns and take immediate action.
Source: A1Radioonline.com | Joshua Asaah | 101.1MHz | Bawku
