Teachers lashed out GES, Audit service over salary arrears

Affected Teachers of salary arrears have lashed out the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Audit Service for failing to complete their validation process.

The validation process was aimed at investigating Teachers with fake documents and other related issues before their salaries were paid.

Teachers were asked to submit and file their documents in June 2013 and August 2014 through their various district directorates.

In a press statement issued by the Secretary for Affected Teachers Owusu Baffoe Daniel, ‘For almost three years now, state institutions responsible for the so-called validation haven’t been able to complete the process.

Stating that fake documents and other related issues were the cause for delays in payment of the arrears’.

‘The question now is, what is the essence of validation if it is not to address those issues raised by GES et al or if it is not to ensure only deserving staff are paid? ‘They asked.

It called on government to sanction the people in charge for taking taxpayer’s money without working for it.

‘We the affected teachers compensated with interest on our arrears to show commitment,’ it appealed.

Read full statement:

PRESS RELEASE BY AFFECTED TEACHERS (VICTIMS OF THREE MONTHS ARREARS)

12/03/16

TEACHER UNIONS IN BED WITH GOVERNMENT; THEY ARE ALL SINGING FROM THE SAME HYMN BOOK

In the best interest of fairness, the only way government ought to have shown commitment as the teacher unions keep singing is/was; 1. To fire some people for poor performance, especially some staff of GES, Audit service and CAGD.

2. And to assure us of interest on our arrears for delays in its payment which is not our fault.

The Payment of three months’ salary arrears which follows a directive issued by the Ministry of Finance in November 2013 to all ministries, departments and agencies stating that the ministry would pay an initial three months’ salary arrears to beneficiaries, including new entrants, those promoted or upgraded, as well as those re-engaged or re-instated.

After which payment of any outstanding arrears beyond the three months will be done after submission of completed payments of salary arrears forms through the sector ministries for validation and subsequently to the Ministry of Finance for payment,”

But for almost three years now, state institutions responsible for the so-called validation haven’t been able to complete the process. Stating that fake documents and other related issues were the cause for delays in payment of the arrears.

The question now is, what is the essence of validation if it is not to address those issues raised by GES et al or if it is not to ensure only deserving staff are paid?

After filling and submitting all the required forms since June 2013 and August 2014 respectively through our various district directorates, it was incumbent on GES, Audit service and CAGD to flush out fake documents, validate the rest and forward it to Ministry of finance for payment.

Failure of which shouldn’t be the classroom teacher’s treat to bear its consequences.

Hence, those in charge should be sanctioned for taking taxpayer’s money without working for it and we the affected teachers compensated with interest on our arrears to show commitment. If not, validation of forms for 5 regions since 2013 to 2016 without publishing the regions involved and attaching list of teachers validated so far cannot be justified as showing commitment. We need to know how many teachers have been validated so far, when the validation is going to end and when we are going to be paid as well.

In situations like this, we were expecting the horn blowers, the so-called agitators of better condition of service for its members (teacher unions to be precise) to ensure GES balance monitoring and supervision with ensuring its employees are paid at the right time.

If they can’t do this simple work, we are advising them; 1. To come clear and state why they are much interested in deducting dues than fighting for what is rightfully ours. 2. to state why they have reduced the pressure on government after receiving their share of the arrears (i.e. Transfer grants, vehicle maintenance allowance etc.).

Other than that they should keep quiet since we become more provoked, the more we hear them singing the same song with government.

Owusu Baffoe Daniel Secretary

SPOKESPERSONS

Albert Dadson

Owusu Baffoe Daniel

Boateng Samuel Clinton

Nana Aidoo