Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced on Sunday, October 4, that the government aims to pay arrears owed to more than 51,000 promoted teachers by October 30. The payment depends on the Ghana Education Service (GES) completing the processing of the teachers’ data and submitting it to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD).
During a visit to GES staff handling the data, Iddrisu said the government expects the details of at least 51,000 promoted teachers to be ready soon. This will allow the Ministry of Finance to release funds for the first phase of supplementary payments. “At least 51,000 would have been ready; then we can get and direct the Minister of Finance to get a supplementary payment for the first leg of it,” he said.
The GES has been given a deadline of 4 p.m. on Monday, October 5, to complete and submit the relevant details to the CAGD. GES Director-General Prof Ernest Kofi Davis told JoyNews that officials were working closely with the Controller’s team to reconcile the data. “We are targeting between 51,000 and 52,000 promoted teachers and doing everything possible to meet the deadline,” Davis said.
The arrears payment is part of ongoing efforts to address teachers’ concerns amid industrial action by teacher unions. 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 unpaid arrears among their grievances.
Iddrisu assured teachers that the government’s promise to settle the outstanding arrears would be honoured. “It will be inexcusable for government not to honour the payment of the teachers’ promoted arrears by October 30th,” he said.
The issue of delayed promotions and unpaid arrears has contributed to tensions in the education sector, with unions pressing for faster resolutions. The government’s move to process and pay the arrears signals an attempt to ease the dispute, though the tight deadline for data submission leaves little room for delay.
At a time when Ghana’s education system faces disruptions, the government’s pledge to meet the October 30 deadline will be closely watched by teachers and union leaders alike.
According to Joy Online.
