Reopen Bawku Presbyterian Nursing College - Students urge govt

Students of the Bawku Presbyterian Nursing and Midwifery Training College have urged the government to take immediate steps to reopen the school following its closure five months ago.

Owing to the increased insecurity in the area due to the protracted Bawku conflict, the management of the school officially closed down the school on November 22, 2024.

Also, aside from the main campus, which is in the heart of the town, an annexe campus has been established at the Bawku Senior High School by the management to enable students who belong to the feuding factions to have access to the school without any difficulty.

Press conference

Addressing a press conference yesterday (April 7, 2025) to express the concerns of the student body over the delay in the school’s reopening, the SRC President, James Akamah, said the closure had been a period of uncertainty and anxiety for the students.

He said “the students in this institution have been in limbo and unsure of when they will be called back to continue their education and training.

“As future healthcare professionals, our academic progress is crucial, not only regarding our aspirations but also the healthcare system of our beloved country,” he stated.

Mr Akamah added that any delay in the training directly affected the timely deployment of qualified nurses and midwives who were desperately needed in the hospitals and healthcare centres.

Clarion call

He made a clarion call on the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, a key stakeholder in the management of the college, and the government, the regulatory authority, to intervene swiftly to resolve the issues causing the delay.

Mr Akamah stressed, “We urge all concerned parties to prioritise this matter and ensure that the necessary steps are taken to facilitate the immediate re-opening of the college” and said the students were increasingly worried about the impact of the delay on the academic calendar, especially the content of study.

The SRC President stated that the students believed that with prompt attention and commitment from the relevant authorities, the issue could be resolved for academic activities to resume without further delay.

Toned down

Mr Akamah stated that although the age-old conflict had had a negative impact on the operations of the college, they were in school even when the conflict was at its peak.

He mentioned that the students were of the firm conviction that the conflict situation had significantly toned down and that academic work could resume without any hindrance, noting: “There were times that the school was in session when there were intermittent gunshots almost every week.

“Currently, the final year students who are preparing for their final upcoming examination are in fear and panic because of staying in the house while their colleagues in other nursing institutions have resumed their second semester for academic activities,” he said.

He, therefore, called on the government and all other key stakeholders to take the necessary steps to reopen both campuses of the college to enable academic activities to resume.

Writer’s email: gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh.