Bolgatanga Technical University: Nine staff yet to receive retirement benefits, says auditor general
This failure to pay the retirees contravenes Article 16 of the Conditions of Service for senior members of the technical university
Nine staff members of Bolgatanga Technical University are yet to receive their retirement benefits, despite retiring between November 2021 and December 2023.
The retirees are collectively owed GHC405, 657. Edward Naabil, who was appointed on 1 December 2009 and retired on 8 March 2023, after serving 14 years, is owed the highest amount of GHC97, 825.84.
In contrast, Anaaro Namoag, who was first appointed on 1 June 2005, and retired on 22 June 2022, after 17 years of service, is owed GHC14, 962.28.
This failure to pay the retirees contravenes Article 16 of the Conditions of Service for senior members of the technical university.
Article 16 states that “upon the retirement of an employee after a minimum of ten (10) years of continuous service, one month’s basic salary for the month of retirement shall be paid for every successful year of service as a retirement benefit.”
This issue is highlighted in the report of the auditor general on the Public Accounts of Ghana – Technical Universities and Colleges of Education for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The auditor general reports that during the audit, the Budget Officer explained that the university’s internally generated funds (IGF) are limited and that using these funds to pay retirement benefits could negatively impact teaching and learning activities.
The auditor general emphasised that retirement benefits, as provided for in the university’s Conditions of Service, are an entitlement for staff. Non-payment could result in litigation against the university.
Therefore, the auditor general recommended that university management “negotiate a payment plan with the retired staff to avoid any possible litigation. We also recommend that the provision for retirement benefit payments be reconsidered with the appropriate authorities, taking into account policy sustainability and the financial challenges of the university.”
When contacted, the university management stated that it is setting up a fund, with contributions from senior members, from which retirement benefits would be paid according to a payment schedule.
It should be noted that the Bolgatanga Technical University branch of the Technical University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (TUTAG) and the Technical University Senior Administrators’ Association of Ghana (TUSAAG) embarked on a strike on 25 August in protest against the vice chancellor of the university, Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, whom they claim was attempting to alter portions of their conditions of service as approved by the Ministry of Finance.
Members of the two unions also withdrew their services, claiming that online teaching allowances had not been paid for an extended period.
Richard Atiah, the then Bolgatanga Technical University chapter chairman of TUSAAG, said that after intense negotiations with the governing council and university management on Tuesday, 29 August 2023, an agreement was reached, leading to the suspension of the strike.
Vice chancellor Professor Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, who spoke exclusively to Asaase News, explained that management was working to pay the retirees.
He clarified that retirees are only supposed to be paid from what they contributed while actively in service, similar to the SSNIT model, and as such, the school found it difficult to pay amounts that haven’t been contributed. Nevertheless, Alnaa assured that management would do its best to offset some of the debt owed.
The current BTU branch chairman of TUSAAG, Stanley Akamiri Adagom, also speaking exclusively to Asaase News, said, “What I know of and can speak to is that the University’s conditions of service make provisions for the payment of retirement benefits to retiring staff. The IGF base of the university is unable to support such payments without adversely affecting the smooth running of the university.”
“Consequently, the university, with active involvement from all labour unions, has set up a fund for the purpose of dealing with retirement benefits. The fund has accrued some money so far, but the accrued funds are inadequate to pay all retired staff.”
“Management is engaging the relevant stakeholders to develop a reasonable and acceptable payment plan. These processes have been duly communicated to the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee. Management will disburse the accrued funds according to the payment plans once they are finalised.”
Reporting by Mark Smith in the Upper East Region
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