The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has disclosed its plans to roll out a housing plan beginning 2022 for its members.
The Association indicated that the housing plan could be rolled out early next year if the initiative proposed is approved by its over 200,000 members across the country.
This proposal came about as the Association held its 2021 GNAT Investment Forum in Accra, yesterday, June 23, 2021.
Supporting the initiative, Investment consultant and Business Economist,;Andrews Kwame Pianim,;speaking at the gathering said that,;teachers have the chance to own 2–3-bedroom housing units at any location of their choice if they choose to invest through the Teachers Fund.
Mr. Pianim also indicated that,;through collective contributions and investments in insurance and housing, members can own these houses across;the country by choosing specific locations where groups of them could retire to in the future.
He further acknowledged the difficulties current National Executives could encounter in getting a buy-in from members of GNAT in adopting the comprehensive housing plan. He then advised the Association to put in measures to ensure the teachers can have access to affordable housing.
“The time has come for the Association to make initial sacrifices,;like was done in establishing the Teachers Fund,;to afford teachers the opportunities to own homes by the time they retire.”
Andrews Pianim
Establish GNAT Retirement Home Scheme
Mr. Andrews Pianim further proposed the establishment of a GNAT Retirement Home Scheme for the purposes of the initiative.
“Hopefully,;the housing scheme should be able to sell homes to teachers built by independent developers for not more than GHC200,000.”
Andrews Pianim
Also speaking at the conference,;the President of GNAT,;Phillipa Larsen, reiterated the need for members to support the National Executives and Administrators to ensure these laudable initiatives come to fruition to benefit teachers in their retirement.
She said that efforts have been made to prudently invest all contributions of;GNAT members to give opportunities not only to teachers but also to ordinary Ghanaians who also get employment and thousands more in the value chain.
The General Secretary of GNAT,;Thomas Musah, also assured members that there is safety and financial efficiency in the investments undertaken by GNAT.
The GNAT Investment Forum was put together to deliberate on the Association’s investment portfolios over the last 20 years and;how to equally diversify contributions of teachers to mutually benefit them even after retirement.
Get affordable housing for rural areas
Prior to this decision,;some concerned stakeholders and members of GNAT had called for an affordable housing initiative to be taken up to enable teachers have access, especially in the rural areas.
On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of GNAT,;The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Sunyani Technical University, Professor Solomon Korantwi-Barimah called on;the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to provide an affordable housing scheme to teachers serving in rural communities.
This, he said,;would motivate more teachers to accept postings to these deprived communities and;help improve the quality of education there.
Prof Korantwi-Barimah underlined the need for the association to establish partnerships with traditional and;local authorities and key stakeholders to address accommodation challenges in rural areas.
He moreover cautioned the leadership of;GNAT not to take the loyalty of members for granted and adopt proactive measures to sustain interest in the Association.
