Pay teachers’ arrears before funding GH¢2bn expressway – Dr Agyemang to gov’t
Abuakwa South Member of Parliament and member of Parliament’s Education Committee, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, has called on the government to prioritise settling outstanding payments owed to teachers rather than allocating funds to the proposed GH¢2 billion Accra–Kumasi Expressway project.
His comments come as pre-tertiary teacher unions continue an indefinite strike over unresolved issues, including promotion-related arrears, the Collective Agreement and the Deprived Area Allowance.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Monday, September 28, Dr Agyemang said teachers were entitled to the payments due them and urged the government to honour its obligations.
He argued that if government has the financial resources it has repeatedly indicated are available, those funds should first be used to address the concerns of the striking teachers.
Dr Agyemang questioned the rationale for teachers remaining at home while substantial amounts are committed to other projects, particularly the proposed expressway.
He referred to the reported GH¢2 billion allocation for the Accra–Kumasi Expressway and suggested that the government could redirect some of those resources towards resolving the teachers’ grievances.
The MP also urged the government to be candid with teachers if it is facing financial difficulties and unable to meet its commitments.
He said repeated promises from the government had weakened teachers’ trust, noting that many had become frustrated after what they considered numerous unfulfilled assurances.
According to Dr Agyemang, resolving the impasse requires more than negotiations between the Education Ministry and the teacher unions because the ministry does not control the government’s finances.
He therefore called on those responsible for managing the public purse to make the necessary funds available to settle the outstanding obligations and help resolve the ongoing strike.
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