Pay workers’ contributions into Pension Fund Accounts — GNAT urges government
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called on the government to pay all contributions made by workers in respect of Pension Tier 2 into the Pension Fund Accounts of all public sector organisations that have their schemes in place by the end of March 2014.
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The association explained that this would enable workers who would retire in 2015 and beyond to access their benefits easily. The association also urged the government to as a matter of urgency, restore the allowances paid to teacher trainees. GNAT explained that the withdrawal of the allowances would negatively affect the effective training of teachers.
These were among recommendations contained in a 16-point communiqué issued at the end of the Fourth Quadrennial and 51st National Delegates Conference of GNAT, copied to the Daily Graphic on Monday. The conference had the theme: “Education in Crisis, the Development Agenda Beyond 2015.”
Outstanding arrears in 2013 salary increment
The communiqué also called on the government to direct the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) to pay the outstanding 2013 salary increase arrears and 2011/2012 incremental credit arrears due GES employees by end of March, 2014. It also called for regular and adequate supply of logistics to schools, especially at the basic level.
“The problem has been affecting teaching and learning over the years. Conference, therefore, calls on the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service to drastically improve the situation,” it added
Again the communiqué called on the GES to “properly plan and handle the rationalisation exercise coupled with the erratic transfers in the GES affecting effective teaching and learning in the first and second cycle schools.”
On postings and transfers, the communiqué said the lack of proper coordination between the educational units on one hand and the regional and district directorates of education on the other, was creating confusion.
The National President of GNAT, Mr Paul Agyei Boakye, said 573 accredited delegates and 49 observers from all the 10 regions of Ghana, who met from January 5 — 9, 2014 in Accra to deliberate on general matters affecting education and the welfare of teachers in the 21st century, acknowledged and appreciated the government’s contributions to education despite the current economic challenges.
New executive of GNAT
According to the statement, the Headmaster of Jachie Pramso Senior High School, Mr Paul Agyei Boakye, was elected as the National President, while Mr Alexander Mawusi Buadi, the District Director of Education, Hohoe District, was elected National Vice-President.
Mr Kwame Ofori-Atta, a tutor of Presbyterian Senior High School, Legon, was re-elected as the National Treasurer.
The other two positions, First and Second National Trustees, went to Ms Abena Gyamera of the Municipal Education Office, Koforidua, and Mr Albert Adusei, the Principal of Nkoranza Technical Institute respectively.
It would be recalled that while opening the fourth quadrennial and 51st national delegates conference of the GNAT in Accra on Wednesday, President John Dramani Mahama justified the removal of the allowance for trainee teachers, saying that the withdrawal had achieved its aim of increasing enrolment in teacher training colleges.
For instance, he said, following the withdrawal of the allowance, enrolment in teacher training colleges increased from 9,000 to 15,000 last year.
