BY Daniel Bampoe
Tensions are rising at the Nandom Midwifery Training College in the Upper West Region following reports that the Ministry of Health may reassign a former principal, Barbara Naabia, back to the institution, a move that has sparked strong opposition from students and renewed debate about leadership and governance within nursing and midwifery training institutions.
The latest development has placed Ms Naabia back in the national spotlight only months after she became the subject of controversy at the Seikwa Nursing and Midwifery Training College, where students reportedly staged demonstrations demanding her removal over concerns about her leadership style and administrative decisions.
At Nandom, students have openly expressed their opposition to what they believe could be a planned return of the former principal, arguing that her previous tenure at the institution was marked by strained relations between management, students and staff.
According to students involved in the protest, their concerns center on allegations that Naabia’s leadership style was overly authoritarian and created an environment they describe as hostile to both academic work and student welfare.
The students claim that during her previous tenure, there were persistent complaints about administrative lapses, communication challenges and what some staff members allegedly viewed as heavy-handed management approaches.
Protesters have also cited allegations that some fees imposed during her administration lacked the necessary approvals, while others have accused her of treating tutors and non-teaching staff in a manner they considered intimidating and confrontational.
Although the allegations have been widely circulated among students and on social media platforms, no official findings from the Ministry of Health have been publicly released regarding the claims.
The controversy appears to mirror concerns that reportedly emerged during Naabia’s assignment to Seikwa Nursing and Midwifery Training College, where students also raised objections to her leadership and organized demonstrations seeking intervention from authorities.
The recurrence of similar concerns at two separate institutions has intensified public interest in the matter and prompted calls for the Ministry of Health to provide clarity regarding any proposed transfer arrangements.
Students at Nandom insist that their opposition is not motivated by personal animosity but rather by concerns about preserving what they describe as a conducive learning environment.
They argue that any decision regarding the appointment or transfer of institutional heads should take into account the welfare of students, the working conditions of staff and the overall academic atmosphere of the college.
As the controversy unfolds, student leaders and concerned stakeholders are being encouraged to channel their grievances through established institutional processes rather than actions that could disrupt academic activities.
Among the avenues available are formal petitions through the Ghana National Association of Nursing and Midwifery Trainees (GNMTA), engagement with Student Representative Council (SRC) leadership, direct petitions to the Ministry of Health and consultations with local authorities, including the Municipal Chief Executive and the area’s Member of Parliament.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has yet to publicly confirm whether a transfer involving Naabia has been finalized or whether any formal decision has been made regarding her return to Nandom.
