An Open Letter to the Hon. Education Minister 

Dear Honourable,
It would be recalled that in September 2016, the Ministry of Education through the Ghana Education Service (GES) employed 2,500 graduate teachers online to handle Mathematics, English, Sciences and Geography at the senior high schools. This was after heads of secondary educational institutions had declared vacancies in those fields.

To show some level of commitment, the Ministry of Education secured financial clearance for all the 2,500 potential teachers in July 2016 before they commenced work in September 2016. As usual, majority of the teachers were posted to the remotest parts of the country where their services were needed. But, with their determination to serve their motherland, they accepted postings without complaints knowing that their salaries would be paid on time.

Unfortunately, it took 7 and 8 months before some of the new teachers received their first monthly salary. This was after series of picketing and complaints to the current Minister of Education, Dr. Opoku Prempeh. What was more pathetic was that, the March or April 2017 salary that came was without the arrears.

In June, 2017, some of the affected teachers received some salary arrears dating back to January 2017. This was made possible after some monies had changed hands at the Controller and Accountant General's Department (GAGD).

It is exactly a year now and nothing has been heard about the four months' outstanding salary arrears of September 2016 to December 2016. The few teachers who were fortunate to get their salary arrears were without that of September 2016. This, to many of the young teachers, is unfair and unacceptable.

I am by this letter appealing to you, Hon. Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Education, as well as the Director-General of GES, Ministry of Finance and CAGD to expedite action on the payment of the four (4) month (September 2016 - December 2016) salary arrears of the affected teachers.

In the era of free senior high education, the plight of the secondary school teacher cannot be ignored. It is based on this premix that every effort must be made to motivate all teachers, especially those whose salary and promotion arrears are still pending to give off their best.

With your proven record of promoting quality education in your short stay in office, I have no doubt in my mind that, this appeal would meet your kindest consideration.

Respectfully,
Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang - 0202471070
Spokesperson
(On behalf of the affected graduate teachers)
Cc:
• The Director-General, GES
• Ministry of Finance
• Controller and Accountant General's Department

• Teacher Unions