IMF deal won’t affect nursing, teacher trainees allowance -Akufo-Addo assures

The President of Ghana H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has recently guaranteed nurses and teacher trainees about not scrapping their allowance.

Months ago (mid-May) the Nana Addo-led government bolted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an extended credit facility programme where Ghana was given an approved US$ 3 Billion 36-month arrangement.

Out of the approved US$ 3 Billion 36-month arrangement, IMF gave Ghana US$600 Million as its first tranche.

The next US$3 Billion from IMF to Ghana was agreed on under a set of conditions that have been said to address the economic challenges Ghana is facing.

Also, the US$ 3 Billion bailout from IMF to Ghana according to the government is aimed at promoting sustainable economic growth.

Earlier in the news, some crop of economists alleged that the US$ 3 Billion bailout from IMF to Ghana will affect nursing and teacher trainees’ allowance. However, the comments from the economists have left nurses and teachers in limbo because the President did not address how far the deal will affect nurses’ and teacher trainees’ allowance.

On the 1st day of July 2023, the Senior Presidential Advisor Yaw Osafo-Maafo touched the long-awaited address on IMF, nurses, and teachers trainees allowance.

Senior Presidential Advisor Yaw Osafo-Maafo spoke about the IMF deal at the 175th Anniversary and Prize Giving Day of the Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong-Akuapem, E/R.

Speaking on behalf of H.E Nana Addo Dankwa, he disclosed that they will not scrap the nursing and teacher trainees allowance because it is part of the social intervention programmes for the IMF deal.

“Teacher trainees present, I know that the difficulty in the economic landscape which has resulted in government’s signing up for a program with International Monitory Fund IMF may cause you some concern. But none of the allowances of the teaching profession will be affected with our program with IMF. There were certain things which are not to be touched and the teacher allowances was on of such protected allowance.

“The difficulty in prompt payment is coming from our own mobilization of resources and not the IMF once you have it you can be sure that teachers allowances and the rest of it will be honoured appropriately”.

The licensure exam for teacher trainees was also talked about.

“The introduction of licensing examination for teachers for example was done in the utmost good fate. It is aimed at lifting the image of the profession and avoiding situation where unqualified persons could pose as teachers and in the process bring the profession into disrepute,” he added.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh