Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has announced that the government will seek supplementary funding to pay outstanding arrears for at least 51,000 promoted teachers. This commitment follows the Ghana Education Service (GES) working to process teacher details, with a deadline of 4 p.m. on Monday, October 5, for submission to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD).
The Minister made this statement on Sunday, October 4, during a visit to GES staff. He emphasized that once the data for the 51,000 teachers is ready, the Ministry of Finance will be directed to secure the necessary funds. This move aims to address a key concern for teacher unions, who have cited delayed promotions and unpaid arrears as reasons for ongoing industrial action.
This situation highlights persistent challenges within Ghana's public sector payroll management and budget allocation. The government frequently faces demands for arrears from various employee groups, impacting public finance stability. Such payments often require reallocating funds or securing additional budgetary approvals, which can strain the national budget. Previous instances of industrial action by public sector workers have similarly pressured the government to address salary and allowance discrepancies.
Minister Iddrisu stated, “It will be inexcusable for government not to honour the payment of the teachers’ promoted arrears.” He further explained that the completed data would enable the government to direct the Ministry of Finance to secure supplementary funding for the first phase of the payments. GES Director-General Prof Ernest Kofi Davis confirmed that officials were working with the Controller’s team to reconcile data for between 51,000 and 52,000 promoted teachers.
The immediate implication is that the government must now identify and allocate significant funds to settle these arrears. This could involve re-prioritizing existing budget lines or seeking parliamentary approval for supplementary appropriations. Teacher unions, including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), will closely monitor the government's adherence to this commitment. Failure to pay could escalate industrial tensions, potentially disrupting the academic calendar. The timely processing by the GES and the subsequent release of funds by the Ministry of Finance are critical steps to watch in the coming weeks.
The government's ability to swiftly process and disburse these funds will be a test of its financial management capabilities. It also sets a precedent for how future arrears for other public sector workers might be handled. The total financial implication of these arrears, while not yet specified, will add to the government's expenditure. This development underscores the ongoing need for robust human resource and payroll systems within public institutions to prevent future accumulation of such liabilities. The resolution of this issue is vital for maintaining industrial harmony in the education sector and ensuring uninterrupted learning for students across Ghana.