Ho NTC calls off demonstration at eleventh hour

Ho, Dec 1, GNA - Students of Ho Nurses Training College on Monday called off a planned demonstration in protest against difficult conditions in the College.

This followed a marathon meeting between the Students Representative Council (SRC) and the Board of Governors of the College. The students were complaining against compulsory feeding policy of the College, which required both day and boarding students to pay GHC 25.00 every semester for feeding, and inadequate hostel facilities. The Board's Chairperson, Mama Attrato II, Queen Mother of Ho-Dome, appealed to the students to exercise restraint while the Board puts in measures to address their concerns.

Mama Attrato said the Board understood the concerns of the students and would do all within its limit to address the concerns. "We are not happy that over 70 per cent of you are staying out of campus and have to be trekking between the school and your hostels in town for classes and food," she said.

She noted that most NTCs in the country have enough hostels for their students and said efforts would be made towards building more hostels for the College.

Mr James Agboada, Principal of the College, said the only hostel of the College originally built for 80 students is now housing 280 students out of the 1,024 student population.

He said the College had acquired a sizeable plot of land for a hostel and appealed to government to help develop the place to accommodate students.

On the feeding issue, Mr Agboada said it is a government policy which could only be reviewed by the Board of Governors. He appealed to students who were indebted to the College to pay up, so that the College would pay its suppliers for the smooth administration of the College.

Mr Courage Kwame-Kumah, President of the SRC expressed the hope that the authorities would respond speedily to their concerns.