President John Dramani Mahama has announced that his government will soon implement a 20% allowance for teachers assigned to deprived communities. This initiative aims to provide financial motivation for educators who accept postings to remote and underserved areas.
The President made this statement during the State of the Nation Address delivered on Thursday, February 27, 2025. He emphasized the importance of supporting teachers who work under challenging conditions and reiterated his commitment to ensuring that they receive the necessary incentives to improve their livelihoods and enhance education in rural areas.
According to the Ghana Education Service (GES) Collective Agreement, teachers assigned to rural or deprived areas are entitled to a 20% allowance. This provision was designed to encourage teachers to accept and remain in postings where living conditions and access to social amenities may be less favorable. However, despite being documented in the agreement, the implementation of this allowance has faced significant delays over the years.
It is important to note that various teacher unions and stakeholders in the education sector have consistently advocated for the enforcement of this allowance. The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalation of Concern Teacher Ghana (CCT-GH) have repeatedly called on the government to honor this commitment, arguing that it would help bridge the educational gap between urban and rural areas. Unfortunately, previous attempts to secure the implementation of this benefit have not yielded the desired results.
President Mahama assured teachers that his administration is prepared to take the necessary steps to actualize this long-overdue incentive. He acknowledged the critical role teachers play in national development and stressed the need to ensure that those serving in difficult-to-reach locations are adequately motivated.
The announcement has been met with anticipation from teachers, many of whom have long awaited the fulfillment of this promise. Educators currently posted to deprived areas hope that the government will expedite the necessary processes to ensure timely disbursement of the allowance.
As the government moves towards making this policy a reality, many teachers and education advocates remain hopeful that this initiative will not only be implemented but sustained in the long term to address disparities in educational opportunities and teacher welfare across Ghana.
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