The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has reiterated its demand for the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to unfreeze the account of some 406 teachers by close of the day today.
While the OSP claims to be investigating ghost names on the government’s payroll, NAGRAT contends that the OSP should have waited for investigations to conclude before freezing the accounts of the affected teachers.
The President of the Association, Angel Carbonu, emphasized that the OSP’s justification for freezing the accounts of the affected teachers is unacceptable and demanded an immediate removal of restrictions on their accounts. According to him, the seizure of those accounts has affected the livelihood of the affected teachers as well as their ability to get back to the classroom to impart knowledge with a sound mind.
“When you’re auditing somebody, until the audit is completed and you have conclusively arrived indicating that A, B, and C are not qualified to earn a salary, you don’t go ahead to apply sanctions.”
Angel Carbonu
He warned that the failure of the Special Prosecutor to comply with the demands of the National Association of Graduate Teachers by the close of day on 16th February 2024 would force them to resort to other measures that may have dire consequences on education in the country. Mr. Angel Carbonu added that “if the Special Prosecutor does not unfreeze the salaries by close of the day, he will have to be blamed for whatever happens after today”.
He chastised the Special Prosecutor as being unable to prosecute people who have been giving bribes in elections and state officials implicated in corruption-related activities, but target poor teachers who are struggling to survive.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor had initially frozen the account of some 1310 teachers under claims that the Office is investigating ghost names on the government’s payroll. However, the Office released the restrictions on 906 of those accounts earlier in the week and said that the remaining 404 accounts are still under investigations.
Teacher Unions To Share Comprehensive Education Policy With Politicians
The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers also said that teacher unions in Ghana are developing a Comprehensive Education Policy that will be shared with leaders of the various political parties when ready.
He said that the policy has been thoroughly researched and he is confident that strict compliance with the policies will lead to a total transformation of the country’s educational system.
“The policy will be ready soon. I will send you a copy so that we will see which political party will be open to incorporating it into its manifesto, and some of the suggestions that we have made. Let us now have a more intellectual discussion or discourse on what the people expect.”
Angel Carbonu
He added that the policy will propose the various ways conditions of service for teachers can be improved as well as how to uplift the general standard of education in the country.
In his response to whether the annual budgetary allocation for education would meet the demands of the education unions, Mr. Angel Carbonu said that the Comprehensive Education Policy will “suggest to political parties, how to be able to save money and protect the revenue of the state from providing for our needs and wants”.
Mr. Angel Carbonu also emphasized that the National Association of Graduate Teachers has called on the government to review the Free SHS policy. According to him, a review will help in the identification of challenges and their immediate resolution so that the policy can run effectively.
He stressed that the government has not been able to end the double-track system because the Ministry of Finance is unable to give GETFUND its share of taxes and revenue collected in the country.
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