President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced plans to build 10,000 housing units for teachers across the country.
The facilities, which will be given out for mortgages and rent, are expected to ease the accommodation challenge faced by teachers nationwide.
Speaking at the sixth quadrennial national delegates’ conference of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in Kumasi on Tuesday (4 January), the president said the government remains committed to improving working and living conditions for teachers.
“The Ministry of Works and Housing is in discussion with teacher unions, including your own, to provide more housing opportunities for teachers,” Akufo-Addo said.
“Within the next two years, it is proposed that 10,000 housing units on affordable terms will be developed for teachers across the country.”
He conceded: “This, we all know, is the tip of the iceberg, but it is a good beginning.
“I am glad to hear how much you welcome the supply of laptops. I promise you that the other, related issues of concern which the [GNAT] national president [Philippa Larsen] referred to in her speech will be addressed.”
Subsidised loans
The president also announced that the government will offer subsidised loans to help teachers address their accommodation difficulties.
“I am fully aware that one challenge facing teacher ownership of homes, beyond finance, is their inability to purchase homes where they intend to retire. Through a subsidised loan programme, teachers will be provided an opportunity to own homes, houses in desired locations in various parts of the country,” he said.
Delegates from all the 16 regions of Ghana are attending the week-long conference, which is on the theme of “GNAT@90: Surviving as a Reliable and Vibrant Teacher Union in the 21st Century”.
They are expected to vote for national officers to lead the association for the next four years.
Fred Dzakpata
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