The Ranking Member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), MP for FANTEAKWA SOUTH Constituency, Hon. Kofi Okyere Agyekum has reminded teachers seeking for study leave with pay to secure guarantee from the banks to show their commitment of serving their bonds or paying back to the Government.
According to Hon. Okyere Agyekum, more often than not beneficiaries of the study leave with pay by the Ghana Education Service refuse to serve their bonds and paying back the money to Government. He was of the opinion that, when the banks are involved before the leave is granted it would be easier for the banks to retrieve the money from the beneficiaries.
He revealed that the Committee made this recommendation in its 2022 reports but the Auditor-General continues to capture such irregularities in its annual reports.
The Rankin Member made these remarks at the commencement of the PAC Zonal Public Hearing in Tamale, to consider the 2022 Auditor-General’s Reports the Public Accounts of Ghana – Technical Universities and Polytechnics for the period ended 31st December 2022 and also Pre-University Educational Institutions for the year ended 31st December, 2022.
Commenting more on the issue, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. James Klutse-Avedzi noted the study leave with pay helps the teachers to acquire additional skills in their field, however it is the beneficiaries who are abusing it and making it disincentive for the Government. Tamale Technical University and Bolgatanga Technical University also appeared before the Committee.
Concerning the Auditor-General’s report on Pre- University Educational Institutions, Bagabaga College of Education, St. John Bosco College of Education, and Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya College also appeared before the Committee.