The Ministry of Education has pledged swift action to address the lingering issue of financial clearance for thousands of graduate teachers employed by the Ghana Education Service (GES). This assurance was given during a recent appearance before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, where the matter of unpaid salaries for newly engaged teachers took center stage.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Abena Osei Asare, raised the pressing question regarding why some teachers had gone unpaid for as long as eight months, despite having been engaged by the GES. She described the situation as unacceptable and called for urgent redress to support the affected individuals who have been serving diligently.
In response, Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, acknowledged the gravity of the issue and affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to resolving it. Speaking on behalf of the Ministry, Dr. Apaak assured Parliament that ongoing efforts, spearheaded by the Education Minister himself, are in place to secure the necessary financial clearance to facilitate payments.
“Honourable Chair, I agree with you entirely. These are Ghanaians. They are our relatives, our sons and daughters, and our constituents. I can assure you that the Honourable Minister has been working assiduously to secure the needed clearance for this issue to be resolved,” Dr. Apaak emphasized.
He further revealed that the Ministry had been in regular contact with both the Ministry of Finance and Parliament to expedite the clearance process and ensure that no deserving teacher is left behind. The Ministry’s approach, he said, reflects the government’s broader commitment to supporting teachers and enhancing education delivery across the country.
The Director-General of the GES, Professor Ernest Davis, also provided clarity on the current situation. He disclosed that out of the 15,755 teachers granted financial clearance since last year, 10,112 have successfully been processed and integrated into the system. However, nearly 6,000 qualified teachers remain in limbo “for one reason or another.”
Professor Davis noted that the current leadership of the GES, which took office earlier this year, inherited an ongoing recruitment and clearance process. Prior to their assumption of office, approximately 6,000 teachers had already been onboarded. However, the process was subsequently paused, requiring the remaining applicants to reactivate their financial clearances to complete their postings.
The issue of delayed payments has sparked concern not only among the affected teachers but also among stakeholders in the education sector who view timely remuneration as essential to motivation and effective service delivery.
In light of the developments, the Ministry of Education’s renewed commitment offers a ray of hope for the thousands of graduate teachers awaiting financial clearance and deployment. As efforts intensify, all eyes will remain on the Education and Finance Ministries to ensure that the necessary resources are mobilized to bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion.
Teachers affected by this delay are encouraged to stay in contact with the Ghana Education Service and follow the reactivation procedures as outlined, to avoid further delays in their postings and payment.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
Published By: Justice Donkoh | GESHub.org
