The Ministry of Finance has authorised the release of Forty-Three Million, Seventy-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety Ghana Cedis, Twenty-two Pesewas (GH¢43,077,890.22) to settle longstanding financial obligations to the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG).
The directive, issued in a letter signed by Deputy Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem (MP) on behalf of the Finance Minister, follows a series of reminders from the Ministry of Education and stems from a National Labour Commission (NLC) arbitral award issued on May 2, 2023.
According to the breakdown provided by the Ministry, the total amount will cover three key outstanding items:
1. All Year Round Work Compensation: An outstanding balance of GH¢1,818,626.22 from a total award of GH¢6,355,771.88 for additional duties performed by CETAG members. The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department had previously released GH¢4,355,145.66.
2. Book and Research Allowance Top-up: The bulk of the payment, GH¢41,222,024.00, is allocated to settle the Book and Research Allowance top-up for the 2023/2024 academic year, as awarded by the NLC.
3. Akrokerti College Arrears: A sum of GH¢37,240.00 is designated to cover the Research Allowance top-up for the 2022/2023 academic year for Akrokerti College of Education, delayed due to late submission of data by the college.
The Finance Ministry has instructed that the entire expenditure of GH¢43,077,890.22 be charged to the Ministry of Education’s 2026 Compensation of Employees Vote.
In the letter, a copy of which was sent to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, the Finance Ministry emphasised strict adherence to fiscal regulations. It reminded the Education Ministry to ensure full compliance with the Public Procurement Act, the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), and all other relevant financial laws in the execution of this release.
This development is expected to bring relief to members of CETAG, who have been engaged in protracted negotiations and industrial actions in the past over the delayed implementation of the NLC award and other allowances.
The release of funds signals a significant step by the government towards resolving the recurrent issue of outstanding arrears for teachers in the Colleges of Education sector.
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