Teachers’ unions across Ghana are voicing growing frustration over the Akufo-Addo Bawumia-led government’s failure to fulfill Tier-2 pension commitments dating back to April 2023.
Despite regular deductions facilitated by the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD), reports reveal that the owed amounts to these unions have ballooned into millions of Ghana cedis. Unfortunately, these funds have not found their way to the Ghana Education Service Occupational Pensions Scheme (GISOPS), leaving teachers’ pensions in limbo.
Efforts by the government to seek financial relief through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have had adverse effects on Organised Labour. Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta’s hesitation has led to losses for unions under the Trades Union Congress (TUC), forcing them to engage in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) and suffer setbacks in their investments.
With teachers constituting the largest segment of organized labor, they are disproportionately affected by these developments. The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), boasting approximately 280,000 members, leads the charge, followed by the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) with 70,000 members, and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT-Ghana) with over 15,000 members.
Adding to the turmoil is the failure of the CAGD to remit teachers’ deducted dues since November 2023. Despite ongoing grievances, only a single month’s allocation has been disbursed, leaving a three-month backlog.
The delayed funds not only sustain union operations but also serve as capital for subsidiary initiatives like the Teachers Fund, which extends financial aid to educators. Consequently, the sluggish approval process for loans, which can take up to three months, poses a significant challenge for teachers in need of financial assistance.
Observers point to the Akufo-Addo Bawumia government’s failure to fulfill statutory payments, including allocations from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), MP’s Common Fund, and GETFUND. Furthermore, delays in distributing laptops under the 1Teacher-1Laptop policy exacerbate the situation, placing immense pressure on union leaders and elected executives.
In response to the crisis, Charles Kusi of Legal Alliance has been tasked by the unions to communicate with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education (MOE), urging swift action to address the persistent delays.
