102 students admitted into Bolga NTC turn down offer due to poor state of facilities and limited programme options

More than 100 students offered admission to Bolgatanga Nursing Training College for the 2025/2026 academic year have declined their placements, raising concerns about the institution's infrastructure deficits and limited academic programme options.

According to the Principal of the College, Winifred Porsaa Wondong, 102 out of the 347 students admitted for the academic year chose not to enrol, while six others who reported to school have already withdrawn from their programmes.

She warned that the number of students leaving the institution could increase further before the current cohort completes its studies.

Speaking during the matriculation ceremony for 272 newly admitted students, Madam Wondong described the situation as worrying and attributed it largely to longstanding challenges confronting the institution.

Established in the late 1960s and regarded as one of the oldest nursing training institutions in the Upper East Region, the college has produced generations of professional nurses, health educators, and administrators. However, it continues to struggle with inadequate infrastructure and limited academic opportunities.

The Principal outlined several challenges affecting the institution, including limited programme offerings, insufficient residential accommodation, overcrowding, inadequate lecture halls, and an ageing vehicle fleet that has become costly to maintain.

She also expressed concern about the deteriorating condition of the college’s auditorium, describing it as a potential safety risk to both students and staff.

Other challenges highlighted included unresolved land disputes and the absence of a perimeter wall to secure the campus.

Madam Wondong appealed to alumni of the institution to support efforts aimed at improving facilities and strengthening the college's capacity to train future healthcare professionals.

“We are appealing to the old students of Nursing Training College, Bolgatanga through Professor Vida Yakong to come to the aid of the College. No contribution is small and we welcome any proposals that will see this institution take its rightful place as a regional health institution,” she said.

She further called on the Upper East Regional Minister, the Municipal Chief Executive, and the area Member of Parliament to help secure funding through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for critical infrastructure projects.

The proposed projects include a two-storey lecture block, separate two-storey residential facilities for male and female students, and a modern administration block equipped with a library and computer laboratory.

Addressing the gathering, Upper East Regional Minister Donatus Akamugri Atanga acknowledged the challenges facing the institution and assured management of government support.

He said efforts are already underway to resolve the longstanding land dispute between the college and the Zaare community, which has occasionally created tensions.

The Regional Minister also pledged to work with the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly to allocate part of its legacy project funds towards addressing some of the institution's infrastructure needs.

Despite the challenges, the college recorded encouraging academic results in recent professional examinations.

According to management, 181 out of 227 students who sat for the Nursing and Midwifery Council's online licensing examination between November and December 2025 passed, representing a success rate of 79.7 percent.

Additionally, all 227 candidates who sat for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) terminal examination passed, with 25 students obtaining distinctions.

The college administration says addressing the institution’s infrastructure and academic limitations will be crucial to improving enrolment, reducing student attrition, and maintaining its reputation as a leading nursing training institution in northern Ghana.