The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has addressed the discrepancy between the 80,000 teachers mentioned in discussions about the ongoing payment crisis and the 58,000 figure being processed by the Controller and Accountant General’s Department. According to GNAT National President, Prosper Tackie, the difference arises from teachers at various ranks who were promoted and are affected by the payment issue.
Mr. Tackie explained that the 58,000 figure refers to teachers in higher ranks, while the additional teachers in lower ranks, who were also promoted, account for the remaining numbers, bringing the total to over 80,000. He stated that the Controller and Accountant General’s Department may have only prepared for the 58,000 teachers in higher ranks, neglecting those in lower ranks. This, he said, has led to the payment crisis.
The GNAT president emphasized the importance of promotions for teachers, particularly those nearing retirement, as changes in their ranks affect their retirement benefits. Mr. Tackie stressed that promotions have a consequential effect on teachers’ retirement and are not taken lightly. He also recounted the process teachers went through to complete their promotion examinations last year, which were written in December after the government granted clearance.
Mr. Tackie revealed that teachers were compelled to write the exams in December to avoid the clearance expiring at the close of the budget year. Some teachers were subsequently captured in February and expected their results by March, but the process remained unresolved. The issue was later raised when President John Mahama was invited to commission the PESCAN facility at the Sweden Ghana Medical Centre.
On that occasion, President Mahama raised the issue of pending promotions and its effect on teachers about to retire. Mr. Tackie questioned whether the focus should solely be on the number of public-sector workers in education, suggesting that the quality of services delivered should also be a priority.
The payment crisis has put the retirement benefits of teachers at risk, according to GNAT. The association is working to resolve the issue and ensure that affected teachers receive their promotions and benefits.
GNAT’s clarification aims to provide insight into the cause of the payment crisis and the efforts being made to address it. The association continues to engage with relevant authorities to resolve the matter.
Key points
- The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has explained that the discrepancy between 80,000 and 58,000 teacher figures in payment crisis discussions arises from teachers at various ranks who were promoted.
- The Controller and Accountant General’s Department may have only prepared for 58,000 teachers in higher ranks, neglecting those in lower ranks.
- Promotions have a consequential effect on teachers’ retirement benefits, and the payment crisis has put these benefits at risk.
