Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has put his reputation on the line over the government’s commitment to clear outstanding promotion arrears owed to teachers by October 30.
Addressing teachers at a two-day symposium and exhibition organised by the National Teaching Council (NTC) at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall in Accra, Mr. Iddrisu said the government had accepted responsibility for settling the financial obligations.
He said teachers were entitled to payments arising from their promotions and assured them that the outstanding amounts would be paid.
“The government has accepted that I am responsible for honouring my obligations as an employer to all teachers. And we have accepted that we will pay their arrears. We will honour them,” he said.
Mr. Iddrisu went further to attach a personal commitment to the deadline, telling teachers that failure to receive their promotion arrears by October 30 would affect his standing as the sector minister.
“If by October 30, your promotion arrears are not paid, then I will have no honour,” he said.
The assurance comes at a time when teacher unions have intensified pressure on the government over unpaid arrears and other outstanding conditions of service.
The dispute escalated on September 25 when three major pre-tertiary teacher unions — the Pre-Tertiary Education Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) — declared a nationwide strike.
The unions have argued that prolonged delays in paying promotion-related arrears have created financial difficulties and frustration among their members.
For teachers, the October 30 commitment now represents a clear test of the government’s pledge to resolve the issue and restore confidence among education-sector workers.
The Education Minister’s latest assurance also places greater attention on the government’s ability to translate its promise into actual payments within the stated timeframe.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
