Tensions have heightened as GNAT issues a harsh warning, and calls for the release of teachers withheld salaries as it gives the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) a 72-hour ultimatum regarding the release of the said withheld salaries.
GNAT Gives OSP 72-Hour Ultimatum To Release Withheld Teachers Salaries
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), together with NAGRAT and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, has delivered a 72-hour ultimatum to the OSP, demanding the prompt release of salaries for 404 teachers.
According to Thomas Musah, the General Secretary of GNAT, the OSP stands accused of withholding the salaries of a large number of teachers — 1,310 to be definite. While the salaries of 906 teachers have been disbursed, 404 teachers are as yet awaiting payment. The reason cited by the OSP for this postponement is an ongoing investigation into supposed ghost names on the government’s payroll.
Release of Teachers’ Withheld Salaries: Mr. Musah on OSP’s intervention
However, Mr. Musah fervently goes against the OSP’s intervention in withholding teacher salaries, arguing that it surpasses their authority. In an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, he underscored that the OSP should guide any concerns regarding individual teachers to the fitting agency head, rather than blocking compensation. He indicated, “There is no law that gives the OSP that particular right, and we will not take it kindly from Monday.”
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The ultimatum issued by the teacher unions conveys serious implications. Mr. Musah cautioned that if the remaining salaries are not released by the specified deadline, the OSP will bear full responsibility for any ensuing actions taken by the unions. He accentuated, “From next week, whatever happens, the OSP should be blamed, and they should trust us. We shall rise to the occasion and deliver… By the close of tomorrow if these monies are not paid, whatever happens from next week, the OSP should take full responsibility.”
This standoff hammers on the critical issue of accountability and the overall influence within Ghana’s public sector. Teacher unions are unyielding about protecting the rights and interests of their members, while the OSP attests its part in investigating corruption crises.
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As the deadline draws nearer, tensions heighten, and everyone is focused on the OSP to act swiftly and decisively. The inability to determine this issue could prompt disruptions in the education sector, affecting not only teachers but also the students they serve. It remains to be perceived how the OSP will respond and whether a resolution can be reached before the ultimatum lapses.