Deputy Health Minister Charges 49 Pioneer Emergency Nursing Students to Prepare for Lifesaving Roles

The Deputy Minister for Health, Hon. Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has tasked the first cohort of Bachelor of Science in Emergency Nursing students to see themselves as frontline responders in Ghana’s healthcare system.

Addressing the 49 pioneer students during their matriculation at the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Training College (NMTC), Tamale, she said the nation’s emergency rooms are already expecting their expertise.

“Your clients are waiting for you at the door of every emergency room in this country,” Prof. Ayensu-Danquah told the students. “This is not just a programme. It is a national responsibility to deliver timely, competent, and compassionate care when seconds matter.”

She described the introduction of the emergency nursing degree as a major step under the Government’s Reset Agenda and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, known as Mahama Cares.

The initiative, she noted, is designed to build a specialised emergency healthcare workforce capable of reducing preventable deaths and improving outcomes in accidents, trauma, and critical care cases.

The Deputy Minister urged the students to commit to professionalism, discipline and ethical conduct throughout their training.

According to her, emergency nursing requires more than clinical knowledge — it demands quick decision-making, resilience and empathy.

“Your role will be to stabilise, to act decisively, and to give patients a fighting chance. That requires competence, compassion, and courage,” she added.

The Principal of NMTC-Tamale, Dr Abdulai Abdul-Malik, welcomed the maiden cohort and congratulated them for making history at the college.

He encouraged them to take their studies seriously and to cultivate the integrity and practical skills needed to excel in a demanding field.

“This programme places a huge responsibility on you, but it also gives you the opportunity to lead change in emergency care in Ghana,” Dr Abdul-Malik said.

The Bachelor of Science in Emergency Nursing Programme is part of broader efforts to expand specialised training for nurses and midwives, and to strengthen emergency care delivery in hospitals across the country.

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