A group calling itself, Victims of Salary Arrears, (VOSA), has expressed disgust at the news making rounds that government has paid off all outstanding arrears owed teachers.
In a press release dated June 18, 2018, VOSA said claims that government has paid all arrears of teachers cannot be true, as there are more than 30,000 teachers whose salary arrears are locked up, with no hope that they will pe paid.
We want to state emphatically without mincing words that the government has not paid all the arrears as it had been reported in the media.”
“This unfair treatment of innocent Ghanaian teachers creates more apathy and lack of commitment which mostly reflect in the falling standards of education,” the release stated
The release comes on the heels of President Nana Akuffo-Addos statement on Saturday, June 16 at the 170th anniversary celebration of the Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong in the Eastern Region.
The president said government has cleared all arrears accrued between 2013 and 2016, owed teachers with respect to travel allowances, transfer grants and overtime allowances.
He added that government is no longer accruing arrears in addition to this years 11 per cent increase in basic salary for teachers.
VOSA said it holds no grudge with the president because he might have been ill informed on the situation to have come out publicly with that information.
“We think this posture of the president is misleading and a palpable betrayal of trust. Either he has been ill informed by GES or MOE or misled into making statements that do not reflect the realities on the ground. We may not blame our president too much because he is not in touch with whatever happens on the ground.”
It is however, disappointed in Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ministry of Education (MOE) for creating the impression that all is well instead of fighting the cause of teachers and by extension, ensuring high standards of education in the country.
VOSA therefore wants the media to disregard the information while calling on the government to pay all outstanding salary arrears with immediate effect to prevent the group from hitting the street and boycotting classes in protest.
By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com
