GES stops GHS10 deductions from teachers’ pay
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has suspended with immediate effect, the GHS10 deductions from the monthly salaries of teachers across the country towards a proposed SIC Life Insurance cover for GES staff.
“Management has directed the immediate suspension of the deductions pending the full sensitisation of and feedback from staff of the Service,” a statement released on Wednesday, 27 June 2018, which was signed by Cassandra Twum Ampofo, Head of Public Relations of the GES, said.
GES explained that the challenge with the deductions had been due to “apparent lack of education and sensitisation of staff” and apologised to the staff of the service for the “unfortunate development”.
GES said the deductions will be refunded and then a stakeholder consultation, sensitisation and education will be held for input by all involved.
Prior to the announcement, a group calling itself the Concerned Teachers Association of Ghana (CTAG) had demanded impeachment of the executives of the various teacher unions: Coalition of Concerned teachers-Ghana (CCT-GH), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Teachers Educational Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU), over the matter.
“It has come to our notice that teacher union leaders (NAGRAT, GNAT, CCT) have connived with Government of Ghana, Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service (GES) to deduct Ghc10.00 from our monthly salary without the consent of the Ghanaian teacher. To us, this purported WELFARE POLICY for which reason GHS 10.00 is taken out of our salaries is not in the supreme interest and welfare of the Ghanaian teacher.
“In light of the unfair exercise of indiscretion by our Union leaders, we are by this notice calling for the impeachment of GNAT, NAGRAT, CCT and TEWU leaders who were part of this detestable decision,” a statement by Convener Brilliant Ibn Okudzeto said on Wednesday, 27 June 2018.
Teachers Alliance Ghana (TAG), another teacher union had called for the rejection of the policy.
“This had come to us as a surprise because majority of us knew nothing about it. We believe this is utterly insult to the service and we do not know who and who arrived at the conclusion that teachers’ lives can be bettered through GHS10 insurance policy.
“What is even dangerous is that we learnt the government is subsidising this policy and is offering a so called premium.
“We are wondering which of the parties: government, GES or Teacher Unions, initiated the process and why teachers were not briefed on the policy before enrollment. We think this kind of treatment meted out to teachers all the time symbolises how low the profession is being held in esteem in this our country. “Teachers surely are not respected in this country considering how our employers treat us with disdain.
“We reject the idea of any insurance that seeks to further degrade our profession. If the government really means well for us, he should have stuck to the original plan rather than deducting GHS10 from our meagre salary,” National Chairman of TAG, Isaac Ofori, said in a statement on the same day.
Source: Ghana/ ClassFMonline.com
