Ghana's Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has assured teachers that the government is committed to settling their outstanding arrears. He made this statement during a visit to Ghana Education Service (GES) staff working on the data of promoted teachers on Sunday, October 4. The Minister emphasized that it is imperative for the government to honour the payment by October 30th. He also mentioned that the government will pursue supplementary payments for promoted teachers once the GES completes processing their details.
According to Minister Iddrisu, the GES is expected to complete the processing of at least 51,000 promoted teachers' details by October 5. This will enable the government to direct the Ministry of Finance to secure supplementary payment for the first phase. The Minister's comments come as the teacher unions, including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), have cited delayed promotions and the payment of outstanding arrears among their concerns in the ongoing industrial action.
The GES has been given a 4 p.m. deadline on Monday, October 5, to complete and submit the relevant details to the Controller and Accountant-General's Department. GES Director-General Prof Ernest Kofi Davis confirmed that officials are working with the Controller's team to reconcile the data. The Service is targeting between 51,000 and 52,000 promoted teachers and is doing everything possible to meet the deadline.
Minister Iddrisu's assurance comes as a relief to teachers who have been on strike due to concerns over delayed promotions and unpaid arrears. The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) have been pushing for the government to address these issues. The Minister's commitment to honouring the payment of teachers' arrears by October 30th is seen as a step towards resolving the ongoing industrial action.
The government has been working to address the concerns of teachers, including the payment of outstanding arrears and the processing of promotions. The Education Minister's visit to the GES and his interaction with the staff working on the data of promoted teachers demonstrate the government's commitment to resolving these issues. The Minister's statement also underscores the importance of meeting the deadline for submitting the details to the Controller and Accountant-General's Department.
The Controller and Accountant-General's Department (CAGD) will receive the completed data from the GES, which will then enable the government to direct the Ministry of Finance to secure supplementary payment for the first phase. This process is crucial in ensuring that teachers receive their rightful payments. The government's commitment to honouring the payment of teachers' arrears by October 30th is a significant step towards resolving the ongoing industrial action.
The Education Minister's statement has brought hope to teachers who have been on strike due to concerns over delayed promotions and unpaid arrears. The government's commitment to addressing these issues is seen as a positive step towards resolving the industrial action. With the deadline for submitting the details to the Controller and Accountant-General's Department looming, the GES is working tirelessly to complete the processing of promoted teachers' details.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government has vowed to honour the payment of teachers' arrears by October 30th.
- The Ghana Education Service is targeting between 51,000 and 52,000 promoted teachers for the payment of arrears.
- The government's commitment to honouring the payment of teachers' arrears is seen as a step towards resolving the ongoing industrial action.
