Teachers and staff of senior high schools across the country are expected to pay 10percent of their basic salaries as rent for occupying a school and government bungalows at the end of this month, March 2022, following the reactivation of a discussion that started some 16 years ago.
This move appears to be another strategy by the government to mobilize funds from every conceivable source as a result of the economic crisis it finds itself in, according to the World Bank and others.
Already, there is a deadlock on the passage of the law to charge 1.75percent on all financial transactions by electronic means.
A circular from the Ghana Education Service to that effect has been sighted by The Herald.
It was dated Friday, March 11, 2022.
It has been addressed to all metropolitan, municipal, as well as district directors of education.Also addressed in the document, were heads of senior secondary schools.
The one in the custody of The Herald was signed by one Felicia Agyebea Okai, who identified herself as Director of Education in the Western Region.
It mentioned that the payment of the rent by teachers and staff of the senior secondary schools first came up in 2006, during the John Kufuor administration.
It said that “in line with the effort to streamline the anomalies with regards to the payment of Rent for Occupying School/Government bungalow, I wish to draw your attention to Ministry of Finance Circular No. 133385/05/05/06NTR CAGD of 15th May 2006 requires that occupants of government bungalows are expected to pay 10% of their basic salary as rent”.
“I, therefore, write to inform you that with effect from 1st March 2022, all Teachers/Staff occupying School/Government bungalow are expected to 10% of their basic salary.
Mrs Okai’s document which was also copied by the Regional Internal Auditor and Regional Accountant, instructed the officers addressed, saying “you are also to ensure all arrears owed are collected to avoid audit issues”.
It is not yet available if this directive, have been served on other state officers, including soldiers, police officers, immigration officers, customs officials among others.
Interestingly, it comes at a time when many state officials through their labour unions are either threatening to embark on strike action or the National Labor Commission is talking them out of one sometimes with court action.
It is not clear for now what position teacher associations, such as the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) will adopt.
