Six years after its establishment, poor road access, inadequate classrooms and accommodation, lack of washrooms and dining facilities, weak telephone and internet connectivity, and the absence of a school bus continue to hamper teaching, learning, and daily life at the Nkanchina Community Health Nursing Training College in the Kpandai District of the Northern Region.
Founded in 2020 to meet the growing demand for nursing education in the Eastern Corridor and the Oti enclave, the college has seen a steady rise in student enrolment and the introduction of new academic programmes. However, development on the ground has not kept pace with the institution’s growth, leaving it grappling with serious infrastructural and logistical challenges.
The college, located about seven miles from Kpandai town, currently operates from abandoned structures that were previously used as a leprosy treatment centre. Although management has carried out basic renovations to make some of the dilapidated buildings functional, the facilities remain grossly inadequate for the more than 500 students enrolled.
“There are no new structures apart from the inherited old buildings, most of which are in deplorable condition and undergoing only basic renovation to serve as makeshift classrooms and hostels,” management said.
Students say they pay about GH¢30 for a return trip and between GH¢50 and GH¢60 for a single drop, a cost many describe as unsustainable. Management adds that the poor road network discourages prospective applicants from attending interviews and completing admission processes, especially, during the rainy season.
Beyond transportation, the lack of adequate classrooms, staff, and student accommodation, as well as unreliable internet connectivity, continues to affect academic work and student welfare.
“Our network is a challenge on campus because students find it difficult to access the internet,” management noted, adding that insufficient lecture halls, hostels, and staff accommodation continue to put pressure on teaching and learning.
The college also lacks basic logistics, including a school bus, a situation that management warns could affect supervision, fieldwork, and general administrative operations.
Originally offering certificate programmes, the institution has recently introduced diploma programmes accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), with plans to roll out degree programmes in the future. However, authorities caution that academic expansion without corresponding infrastructure could undermine the quality of training.
Both students and management are therefore appealing to the Ministries of Health and Education, the Kpandai District Assembly, GETFund, and private stakeholders to support the development of the college, which serves communities across the Northern and Oti regions.
Responding to the concerns, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kpandai, Haruna Abdul-Karim, told Graphic Online that the assembly had begun addressing some of the challenges.
According to him, a mechanised water system has been drilled on campus to ease water shortages, although additional supply is still required to meet student and kitchen demands. He also disclosed that reshaping and gravelling works on the Nkanchina–Kpandai road had commenced under the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP).
“Since I took over as DCE, the Principal and residents of Nkanchina have consistently called on me to work on this road, knowing its importance to the nursing college,” he said, adding that the challenges facing the institution remain a priority.
Mr. Abdul-Karim further appealed to the Ministry of Roads and Highways to consider constructing the road with bitumen to ensure durability. The DCE also appealed to the Ministries of Health, Education, and the GetFund to consider the infrastructure expansion of the school to realize its full potential in the area.
He further expressed concern over the lack of basic logistics at the college. “A whole nursing training college has no official vehicle and no school bus to ease operations. It makes it difficult for management to work,” the DCE said.
Meanwhile, some residents have welcomed the ongoing rehabilitation works but insist that a permanent solution is required. “We are happy about the rehabilitation works, but it is temporary. We hope the road is tarred to address flooding, especially during the rainy season,” a resident said.
As enrolment continues to grow and new programmes are introduced, stakeholders insist that addressing infrastructure, transport, water, and connectivity challenges at Nkanchina is not just about improving one institution, but about strengthening healthcare delivery in underserved communities across the enclave.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh