My government is committed to improving the conditions of teachers – Prez. Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo has reiterated his government’s commitment in ensuring that teachers live and work under improved conditions.

According to the President, this has been evident in the various policies introduced since his administration five years ago, including the re-introduction of the teacher trainee allowances abolished by the previous administration.

The President’s comment comes in the wake of a notice by members of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) that they will embark on an industrial action from Wednesday, January 5, over the non-payment of their professional development allowances.

While delivering his remarks at the 6th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the President indicated that his government is the first in the nation’s history to pay teachers’ professional allowances.

“We have restored since coming into office five years ago and continue to pay teacher trainee allowances which were abolished by the previous administration. In addition to the yearly average increase in salaries over the last five years, my government is for the first time in the nation’s history, paying a professional allowance to teachers. We have abolished the three months pay policy for teachers, we have cleared the arrears,” he stated.

The President also underscored the need to rebuild the teaching profession to make it more appealing to prospective job seekers as a viable career choice instead of a last resort.

“My government remains committed to improving the circumstances of our teachers. We believe that teaching should not be seen as a stop-gap measure or a job of last resort but as a viable choice to enter a well-respected profession with positive long term career prospects and good benefits,” he added.