By Kingsley Mamore
Dambai (O/R), Oct. 10, GNA – The Reverend Daniel Ahenkorah, a pastor and philanthropist, has called on the Government and the Ghanaian public to accord teachers greater recognition and improve their conditions of service to strengthen the country’s educational system and accelerate national development.
He said teachers remained central to Ghana’s human capital development because they provided the knowledge, skills and values needed to prepare successive generations for leadership and professional responsibilities.
Rev Ahenkorah said addressing concerns affecting teachers, particularly salaries, allowances, outstanding arrears, promotions and other conditions of service, should be treated as a national priority.
He observed that disagreements between the Government and teacher unions over employment-related matters highlighted the need for sustained dialogue, mutual understanding and practical measures to address the legitimate concerns of educators.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Rev Ahenkorah said the contribution of teachers to national development could not be overemphasised, noting that virtually every professional, including politicians, doctors, lawyers, engineers and other specialists, had benefited from the guidance and instruction of teachers.
He said the knowledge and expertise that drive technological advancement, professional excellence and institutional development were built on the foundations laid by teachers.
“Without teachers, the technology and opportunities we enjoy today would not be possible. It is through the knowledge, dedication and efforts of teachers that many people have acquired the skills and qualifications that have enabled them to reach their current positions,” he said.
Rev Ahenkorah questioned why teachers continued to face challenges in securing improved conditions of service despite their indispensable contribution to society.
He said the country must move beyond merely acknowledging the importance of teachers and demonstrate that recognition through policies and institutional arrangements that promote their welfare, professional growth and job satisfaction.
According to him, improving teachers’ welfare should not be viewed as an additional burden on the State but as a strategic investment in the quality of education and the country’s long-term socio-economic development.
He said motivated and adequately supported teachers were better positioned to deliver quality instruction, nurture learners’ talents and contribute to producing a skilled workforce capable of meeting Ghana’s development needs.
Rev Ahenkorah, who has a personal connection to the profession through his father and other family members, noted that teachers had historically not received the level of recognition and respect commensurate with their contribution to society.
He urged Ghanaians to reconsider attitudes that undermine the dignity of the profession and promote a culture that values educators as important partners in national development.
He said improving public appreciation of teachers, alongside addressing their professional and economic concerns, could help attract talented young people into the profession and encourage experienced educators to remain in the classroom.
Rev Ahenkorah also expressed concern about the challenges faced by some trained teachers in securing employment after completing their education.
He said prolonged periods of unemployment among trained teachers could create uncertainty for graduates who had invested time and resources in their professional preparation.
The clergyman therefore called for sustained collaboration among the Government, education authorities and other stakeholders to strengthen teacher recruitment and deployment arrangements, taking into account staffing needs across the country.
He further raised concerns about delays in the payment of salaries to some newly appointed teachers, saying such experiences could create financial difficulties and undermine confidence in the profession.
Rev Ahenkorah urged the relevant authorities to strengthen administrative processes to ensure that newly recruited teachers received their salaries and other approved entitlements promptly.
He said transparent recruitment procedures, timely salary payments, predictable promotion processes and effective engagement with teacher unions were essential to building confidence among educators.
He also encouraged teacher unions and the Government to sustain constructive negotiations and pursue mutually acceptable solutions to employment-related disputes in the interest of teachers, learners and the wider education sector.
He noted that industrial disputes within the education sector could disrupt academic activities and affect teaching and learning, making it important for all parties to prioritise dialogue and the uninterrupted delivery of quality education.
Rev Ahenkorah called on parents, traditional authorities, civil society organisations and the private sector to support initiatives aimed at improving teachers’ welfare and strengthening the education system.
He said national development required collective responsibility and that recognition of teachers should extend beyond public statements to practical support for their work and professional advancement.
Rev Ahenkorah stressed that a country aspiring to achieve sustainable development must pay attention to the welfare of those responsible for educating its future leaders, professionals and skilled workers.
He said providing teachers with the respect, resources and working conditions they deserve would strengthen the education sector and contribute to building a more productive, equitable and prosperous Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Kingsley Mamore