The Ghana Education Service (GES) has set Monday, October 5, as the deadline for submitting documents required to resolve the ongoing payment dispute involving thousands of teachers.
Head of Public Relations at GES, Daniel Fenyi, says the Service is working with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) to complete the necessary documentation and ensure affected teachers receive their outstanding payments.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, Mr Fenyi said the priority should be resolving the issue rather than determining which government institution is responsible for the delays.
“I would very much hesitate to start blame games,” he said, stressing that “teachers need their money.”
Mr Fenyi explained that teacher unions regard the Ministry of Education, GES, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and CAGD as one government team during negotiations, making attempts to assign blame among the institutions counterproductive.
According to him, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu met the teacher unions on Monday and gave assurances that steps were being taken to address their concerns.
The Minister subsequently directed GES to work with CAGD to provide the documentation required to process the payments.
“The minister has also mentioned that in case of the insistence on some input forms and documentation, GES should be able to provide,” Mr Fenyi said.
The required documents include input forms, promotion letters and other relevant records.
Mr Fenyi said about 59,000 to 60,000 teaching staff are involved in the process, while clarifying that the overall figures being discussed also include non-teaching employees.
He explained that GES had initially expected affected teachers to be processed through automatic placement based on the outcome of an August 31 meeting and subsequent agreement.
However, CAGD maintained that input forms were required to process the payments, prompting GES to begin compiling the necessary documents.
Mr Fenyi said staff at the GES headquarters were working around the clock to complete the process before the deadline.
“I can confirm to you from the GES headquarters that, as we speak, there are even some people still at the headquarters working around the clock,” he said.
He also clarified that the 4 p.m. deadline being discussed applies to Monday, October 5, and not Monday, September 28.
“The 4 p.m. deadline is for next week Monday. Next week Monday,” he stressed.
Mr Fenyi expressed confidence that GES would meet the deadline, citing the Service’s ability to work under pressure to meet previous timelines.
“Trust us that we will work around the clock to make sure that their desires are really met, so that they can return to the classroom,” he said.
He added that GES was working collaboratively with the teacher unions and other stakeholders to resolve the dispute and prevent further disruption to teaching and learning.
“We have stabilised the calendar,” Mr Fenyi said, adding that the Service does not want the current dispute to disrupt the academic calendar.
