Governance Lecturer at the Central University, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah has advised teachers to heed the directive by the Ghana Education Servi
Governance Lecturer at the Central University, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah has advised teachers to heed the directive by the Ghana Education Service (GES) to pay rent on the bungalows they occupy.
A statement issued by the GES requested the teachers to pay a 10% of their basic salary as rent for their bungalows.
“I wish to draw your attention to Ministry of Finance circular No. 133385/05/06NTR CAGD of May 15, 2006, which requires that occupants of government bungalows are expected to pay 10% of their salary as rent.”
“I, therefore, write to inform you that effect from March 1, 2022, all teachers/staff occupying school/government bungalow are to pay 10 per cent of their basic salary as rent,” the GES said in the statement.
But the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana has issued a threat to the GES.
According to the President of the Association, King Ali Awudu, ”if they will force us to pay, then we will ask our house mistresses, our house masters to leave the campus. They should leave the bungalows for the students only to stay in the schools”.
He also argued the Ministry of Finance’s circular that was issued in 2006 stated it was the duty of the government to furnish the bungalows but the government never did.
“The bungalows in the schools, some are decent, some are in extremely deplorable state and the teachers, themselves, renovate it,” he stated, wondering why the teachers should pay rent.
He underscored how dangerous it is for the teachers living on campus as the welfare of the students is their daily duty.
”Recently, we heard of Konongo-Odumase where two students stabbed themselves. That is when even the teachers are around and monitoring events. So, when the teachers are not in the school, you can imagine the chaos. So, you cannot keep them in the bungalows to do this job and then tax them. That is our position,” he recounted, stressing, “we will not pay. We are in the school for a purpose . . . we will not pay because we are working for it.”
But Dr. Otchere-Ankrah has called on the teachers to rescind their decision, stating they have to pay the 10 percent to enable the government to get funds for renovation and other developmental purposes regarding their condition of service.
Making his submissions on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”, Dr. Otchere-Ankrah said; ”I will never agree with you, though I’m a teacher, that you will stay in a bungalow and not pay rent. I will never agree!”
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