GNAT Pushes for Salary and Pension Reforms as Teachers Retire Broke
The President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Rev. Isaac Owusu, has raised serious concerns about the low lump sum payments teachers receive after decades of dedicated service to the country.
Rev. Owusu made the remarks at the 54th Delegates Conference of teachers, where he appealed directly to President John Mahama to urgently address long-standing challenges related to teachers’ salaries and overall conditions of service.
According to the GNAT President, the current pension outcomes for teachers are discouraging and do not reflect the years of sacrifice and commitment made by education professionals.
“Your Excellency, a teacher who has worked for over 40 years cannot even boast of GHS500,000 as his or her lump sum, and this is not good,” Rev. Owusu stated.
Beyond pension-related concerns, Rev. Owusu highlighted several other issues undermining teacher morale and the quality of education delivery in Ghana. These include frequent attacks on teachers by students or their guardians, inadequate teaching and learning resources, poor school infrastructure, and delays in the payment of allowances.
ALSO READ: Over 6,000 Unpaid Teachers Threaten Fresh Protest Over Salary Arrears
He stressed that these persistent challenges negatively affect teacher motivation, classroom effectiveness, and overall educational outcomes, calling for comprehensive reforms to improve the welfare and working conditions of teachers across the country.
Rev. Owusu’s comments come at a time when teacher unions are engaged in ongoing negotiations with the government over a new Collective Agreement aimed at addressing salary structures and conditions of service.
In response, President John Mahama assured teachers of the government’s commitment to addressing their concerns. He indicated that steps would be taken to review the Single Spine Pay Policy and resolve challenges associated with the three-tier pension scheme, in line with efforts to improve teacher welfare and strengthen Ghana’s education system.
The conference provided a platform for renewed dialogue between teachers and government, with stakeholders hopeful that sustained engagement will lead to meaningful reforms for educators nationwide.
Join our WHATSAPP CHANNEL, WHATSAPP GROUP 1, WHATSAPP GROUP 2 and TELEGRAM CHANNEL to get all relevant teaching resources to make your lessons effective.
Subscribe to this blog and follow us on facebook
