The Minister of State in charge of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has disclosed that teacher trainee allowances under the Mahama administration will be treated as compensation, aligning them with the payment structure for public sector workers.
This new system, he stated, would ensure timely disbursement and eliminate delays that have disrupted the academic lives of teacher trainees.
“Not only has President Mahama allocated money, but he has also come up with a new system that says teacher trainee allowances will be treated like compensation for public sector workers. So, every day that public sector workers are paid, teacher trainee allowances will be paid too,” Kwakye Ofosu explained.
In a recent interview on GH One Tv’s State of Affairs show monitored by Coleman Publications, Kwakye Ofosu criticized the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for failing to sustain the reinstated teacher trainee allowances and accused them of financial mismanagement.
He claimed that these actions have contributed to the economic hardships faced by Ghanaians in recent years.
“They came into government to waste everybody’s time. Squander precious resources. They were incorruptibly corrupt,” he remarked, adding that the former finance minister is currently evading scrutiny over alleged mismanagement.
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Kwakye Ofosu also referenced an incident where former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was confronted by a student over unpaid allowances during a campaign event. According to Kwakye Ofosu, Bawumia was caught off guard and “fumbled,” unable to provide a convincing response.
Beyond allowances, Kwakye Ofosu accused the NPP of widespread corruption, citing revelations in Parliament about the misuse of the tax refund account.
“Honorable Ato Forson was in Parliament only last week to review the fact that the tax refund account became a slush fund for them. That is what they were using to promote all the dubious things that they were doing,” he alleged.
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In contrast, Kwakye Ofosu highlighted the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s commitment to prudent financial management.
He emphasized that under President Mahama’s leadership, funds would be redirected to critical sectors such as health, agriculture, and education.
He pointed to the “Big Push” initiative, a strategic infrastructure development program, as an example of Mahama’s vision for economic growth.
“He [Ato Forson] goes to Parliament and is able to tell us that he has allocated 13,850,000,000 Ghana cedis to the Big Push program, which essentially means that we are going to see the development of critical infrastructure, which would help catalyze our development,” Kwakye Ofosu stated.
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Concluding his remarks, Kwakye Ofosu reiterated the need for responsible governance and greater financial accountability.
“We are not inclined to engage in that kind of expenditure,” he said, reaffirming the NDC’s commitment to restoring financial discipline and sustainable development.