Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has assured teachers across the country that the government will settle all outstanding promotion arrears owed to them by October 30.
Speaking 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 government recognised its responsibility as an employer to pay teachers all monies due them.
He said the government had accepted responsibility for the outstanding payments and was committed to clearing the arrears, particularly those resulting from teachers’ promotions.
“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.
“If by October 30, your promotion arrears are not paid, then I will have no honour.”
The assurance comes amid growing concerns among teachers over delays in the payment of promotion arrears and other outstanding entitlements.
Three major 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 on September 25 over the outstanding payments.
The unions have repeatedly called on the government to take concrete steps to clear the arrears, arguing that prolonged delays have caused frustration among their members.
Mr Iddrisu’s latest commitment is therefore expected to provide some reassurance to teachers as they await the payment of the outstanding promotion arrears.
