The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has warned it will from March 30 not tolerate further excuses by the government in the payment of arrears in salaries and allowances of its members across the country.
The teachers say government owes teachers to the tune of over 50 million cedis in vehicle maintenance allowances, transfer grants, transport and travel allowances.
In addition, they claim there are also salary arrears of teachers recruited by the Ghana Education Service but have for months not been paid for work done.
National Council of NAGRAT in a communiqué issued February 15 said, it is disappointed at the snail pace, and what it called nonchalant approach by the government, on the issue of salary and other arrears.
“We have watched in disbelief, the wanton disrespect for teachers and the incessant termination or abandoning of promises, pledges and memorandum regarding the payment of arrears,” the Council stated in the communiqué
It indicated that despite the promises made by the government, and the fact that government stated in its 2017 budget to pay those arrears, it “has reneged on that promise”.
The Council said teachers have lost their patience as it has been stretched to its limit, a situation that could trigger them to break
“The patience of Teachers has been stretched to its elastic limit and will break sooner than later,” the Council said and advised the government to initiate moves to pay the arrears by the end of March.
“Council serves notice that per the agreement reached with Government, acting through the Hon. Deputy Minister of Finance, and the Teacher Unions on 12th January 2018, no further excuses will be tolerated”.
Accordingly, it said NAGRAT will “advise itself if the arrears are not paid by 30th of March, 2018”.
By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3news.com|Ghana