The government has taken steps to ensure the timely disbursement of allowances for teacher and nursing trainees by routing payments through the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD).
President John Dramani Mahama announced this initiative while addressing a durbar at the Jubilee Park in Tamale as part of his “Thank You Tour” of the Northern Region following his victory in the December Presidential Elections.
“There is good news for teacher and nursing trainees. Nursing and teacher trainees’ allowances are to be paid directly by the Controller and Accountant-General. This has been made a part of the compensations item in the budget and this will permanently eliminate the delay in trainees receiving their allowances. This means that anytime public sector workers receive their monthly salaries, teacher and nursing trainees will also receive their allowances,” the president stated on Saturday, March 22.
For years, trainees in these fields have struggled with erratic disbursements, with delays sometimes stretching for months, affecting their ability to cover transportation, meals, and academic materials.
In response to these concerns, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has allocated GH¢684 million in the 2025 budget for trainee allowances.
“We have allocated GH¢203 million for the payment of teacher trainee allowances and another GH¢480 million for nursing trainee allowances,” Dr. Forson confirmed while presenting the 2025 Budget on March 11.
He emphasized that this allocation underscores the government’s commitment to supporting students in the education and healthcare sectors.
The Finance Minister also highlighted additional investments outlined in the 2025 budget, covering education, infrastructure, social protection, and disaster relief.
