Dr. Nana Yaw Adutwum, Director of Policy for the United Party (UP), has called on the Ghanaian government to consider private financing for the proposed $2bn Accra-Kumasi Expressway. This, he argues, would free up public funds to settle outstanding teacher promotion arrears and deprived-area allowances. In a recent interview on Channel One TV's The Big Issue programme, Dr. Adutwum questioned the allocation of over $2 billion for a highway project while classroom teachers await owed funds.
Dr. Adutwum's comments come at a time when teacher unions in Ghana have recently suspended a three-week strike following a meeting with the Council of State. The strike, led by the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), was driven by demands for payment of promotion arrears, deprived area allowances, and other conditions of service. The agreement covers 52,000 promoted teachers, with salary adjustments expected to take effect on October 16.
According to Dr. Adutwum, the government's decision to ring-fence over $2 billion for the expressway project ahead of the contract being awarded has tied up public resources that could be used for other pressing needs. He proposed that private investors be brought in to shoulder part of the cost of the expressway, allowing the government to allocate funds to teacher welfare. Dr. Adutwum emphasized that he is not opposed to the expressway project itself but takes issue with how it is being financed.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has completed documentation for 30,000 of the 60,000 affected teachers, with a deadline of October 30 to process the remainder. GNAT has also expressed concerns about the specific benefits for teachers before signing off on a final deal. The dispute over where the government finds the money for teacher promotions and allowances is crucial, as it determines how quickly salary adjustments reach the teachers' accounts.
Dr. Adutwum's intervention reframes the standoff as a question of national budget priorities, suggesting that redirecting financing strategies on big-ticket infrastructure could unlock funds for recurrent obligations like teacher pay. His remarks also touch on how major road projects are typically funded in Ghana, whether through direct government allocation, loans, or build-operate-transfer arrangements involving private firms.
The proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway is a significant infrastructure development project aimed at improving transportation between Ghana's two major cities. However, the financing strategy for the project has raised concerns about the allocation of public resources. Dr. Adutwum's proposal for private financing has not received a response from the government, and no timeline has been given for any decision on alternative financing for the expressway.
The outcome of Dr. Adutwum's proposal and the government's response will have implications for the thousands of teachers awaiting promotion arrears and allowances. With the GES set to complete documentation for all 60,000 affected teachers by October 30, and salary adjustments for 52,000 promoted teachers due to take effect on October 16, the issue remains a pressing concern for the education sector.
Key points
- Dr. Nana Yaw Adutwum proposes private financing for the $2bn Accra-Kumasi Expressway to fund teacher promotions and allowances.
- The Ghanaian government has allocated over $2 billion for the expressway project ahead of the contract being awarded.
- Teacher unions have suspended a three-week strike following a meeting with the Council of State, with salary adjustments expected to take effect on October 16.
