Professional Allowance: President Akufo-Addo decieves teachers again – Agyenim Boateng 

The Bono East Deputy Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Obeng Agyenim Boateng has chided the Akufo-Addo government for its inability to pay the Professional Allowance at the end of October, 2020.

This follows a promise made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh during a one day teachers’ program held in the Volta Region. At the event, the Minister promised to pay a yearly allowance of Ghc 1200 for teachers starting from the month of October. Teachers were however in anticipation of bagging Ghc 1200 which turned out to be a failed promise.

In a sharp but a timely reaction, the Bono East Deputy Regional Youth Organizer, Obeng Agyenim Boateng said, “this is the most teacher unfriendly government we have ever had in history of Ghana. They have consistently deceived Ghanaian teachers ever since they came into office in 2017; from denial of employment to the sheer arrogance exhibited by the Education Minister towards teachers. Teachers are not cheap to be deceived this way. Teachers must kick against this nepotistic government.”

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According to him, the NPP in their 2016 Manifesto made 38 mouth watering and Ethiopian promises in the Education sector alone towards the holistic improvement of the educational sector with the motivation of teachers as a key panacea to quality education.

Today, out of the 38 promises, only 7 promises representing  18% has been delivered with a staggering 31 promises representing 82% still remaining unfulfilled till date.

Teachers, Educational workers and stakeholders in education are disappointed in President Akuffo Addo and his NPP Government for    their claims of fulfillment of 80% of their 2016 campaign promises across all sectors of our socio- economic and Infrastructural developments as the reality on the grounds reveals an unprecedented levels of deception, lies, disrespect and arrogance of the government machinery in defending the indefensible.

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Some of these unfulfilled promises in the NPP 2016 Manifesto pages (104- 112) which remains the social contract in assessing the NPP are:

1. The professional development and work environment needs of teachers will be treated with respect and we shall ensure that teachers’ salaries and allowances are paid regularly and on time. page 108.

2. The NPP will also focus on the provision of incentives that will motivate teachers, and reward their hard work in the classroom. Page 108

3. The NPP will ensure that teachers who upgrade their qualifications and skills are promoted promptly and their salary increases take immediate effect. page 109

4. The NPP will ensure  proper decentralization of teachers’ recruitment and other document processing activities and relieve teachers of the frustrating, bureaucratic Processing of documents at the centre. Page 109

5. We shall ensure that each region has two state-of- the- art technical and vocational institutions to demonstrate our commitment to the education sector. Page 108

6. We shall upgrade and revamp existing technical and vocational institutions to ensure that training for world class employable skills is conducted in world – class surroundings. Page 108

7. The views of teachers will be sought on education policy innovation and implementation. Page 108
These Ethiopian promises among others 24 undelivered and failed promises has rolled back the clock of progress in the educational sector.

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Today, the victimization of teachers and school managers across the country for voicing out their frustrations on operational challenges and problems confronting FREE SHS, SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMS among others such as lack of chairs, inadequate classrooms and teaching materials, poor quality of food served under the Ghana School Feeding programs among others such as deliberate and deceptive promises of financially motivating teachers have all become a living nightmare to the teaching profession.

The NDC Government between 2009- 2016 is on record to have paid certified teachers a professional allowance on monthly basis ranging from GHC 140.00- 600.00 before the full implementation of the Single Spine Salary  Pay Policy (SSSPP) in 2010. This professional allowance was later converted under the SSSPP to Teachers retention Premium ranging from GHC 132.15p – over GHC 600.00 monthly for Pupil teachers,  and Professional teachers at the various levels.

This financial intervention by  the NDC Government has made teachers better off and improved upon their financial bargaining powers as well as made the teaching profession more prestigious than it was before we came to power in 2009.

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Furthermore from February, 2009-  December, 2012 with Professor Mills as President and H. E. John Mahama as Vice President the following grade of teachers saw significant improvements in their wages and salaries due do increases in the minimum wage, introduction of allowances and the successful implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure Pay Policy.
Grade Feb- 2009   Dec- 2012
Pupil Tr. GHC 80    GHC 380
Cert. A  GHC 230   GHC 600
Diploma GHC 310  GHC 740
Degree   GHC 385   GHC 940
Tr. Allowa GHC 80  GHC 240

Besides from 2013 to 2016 under President Mahama Ghanaian workers were given better wages and salaries than under President Akuffo Addo  as the data  below on the levels of increases in the National minimum wages(NMW) speaks for itself:

President Mahama NMW  legacy(2013-2016):
2013 – 17% increase of NMW-  2012 rate
2014 – 14.5% increase of NMW – 2013 rate
2015- 10% increase of NMW – 2014 rate
2016 – 10% increase of NMW 2015 rate.
Cumulative increase was 51.4 % increase over the 4 years.

President Akuffo Addo NMW legacy(2017-2020):
2017- 10% increase of NMW-  2016 rate
2018- 10% increase of NMW-  2017 rate
2019- 11%increase of NMW-  2018 rate
2020- 11% increase of NMW-  2019 rate.
Cumulative increase was 42% increase over  4 years.

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It is crystal clear that the 4 years of President Mahama administration with GHC 56 billion loan borrowed and domestic revenue of GHC 193 billion has performed far better than President Akuffo Addo who has so far borrowed GHC 140 billion and has had GHC 374 billion  as domestic revenue.

In conclusion the NDC Bono East Regional Youth Wing on behalf of the Party wish to assure teachers, Government workers, Farmers, Artisans, Pensioners and the Ghanaian Youth that, our Flagbearer and Incoming President John Mahama will from 2021roll out policies and programs in our People’s manifesto which will create Jobs and Prosperity for all in the Education, health, Agriculture and Agri Business, Trade and Industry, Roads and Transportation, Infrastructure, Socio-  Economic development among others.

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Obeng  Agyenim Boateng is however calling on all teachers to vote against President Akufo-Addo in the December 2020 polls by voting President John Mahama and number 2 on the ballot paper.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh