“Banks would give mortgages for workers to buy the houses” – Mahama announces

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Makay
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President John Dramani Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that banks would give mortgages for the workers to buy houses and pay over 15 to 20 years.

According to John Mahama, Organised Labour, Social Security, National Insurance Trust, and Republic Bank of Ghana will establish a GH¢3 billion revolving fund to support companies in constructing houses for the project.

He disclosed that the scheme, in partnership with organised labour and financial institutions to ensure that nurses, teachers, doctors, and other civil servants can access decent housing under good conditions.

President Mahama made this known on Saturday, May 9, during the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of the over 1,000-unit Green City Housing Project at Dedesua in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region.

“Companies like State Housing Company (SHC), Tema Development Corporation (TDC), and all the housing companies will be given credit from this fund to build houses. And then the banks will give mortgages for the workers to buy the houses and pay over a 15 to 20-year period,” he said.

Mahama disclosed that the scheme will make home ownership more accessible and sustainable for public sector workers.

Meanwhile, Amos Owusu, the Atwima District Chairperson of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), has lamented the poor welfare of teachers in Ghana.

According to the GNAT Chairperson, one cannot be a teacher in Ghana and live a good life.

He expressed deep concern about the welfare of teachers, stating that a teacher can’t build a house these days in Ghana.

The GNAT Chairperson speaking, lamented saying, “It is not possible for a teacher to build a house these days. There is no prosperity in teaching. You cannot teach and live a good life”.

“Even among our leaders in Ghana, how many would allow their children to attend Colleges of Education to become teachers?” he asked.

“Even the students we teach do not aspire to become teachers because of how poorly teachers are treated in this country,” he noted.

He added, “Teaching has become a stepping stone. Many people enter the profession and later switch careers or travel abroad in search of better conditions. You cannot remain in Ghana and teach to live even an average life”.

The GNAT Chairperson further detailed allowances and benefits owed to teachers.

“Car maintenance allowance has not been paid since 2021, and even when it is paid, it is less than GH¢600. What is painful is that we are given assurances, but they are never fulfilled,” he lamented.

The GNAT Chairperson added, “In other professions, like banking, workers are supported to acquire vehicles because of better conditions of service, but teachers are left behind”.

“Our conditions of service state that the government should cater for the healthcare of teachers, their spouses, and up to four children, but no government has implemented this,” he said.

“There is a death service condition where the government is supposed to provide a coffin, an ambulance, and even support funeral arrangements when a teacher dies. This has never been implemented,” he stated.

“A teacher who has worked for over 35 years does not retire with even GH¢50,000, and even at the highest rank, one may not receive up to GH¢100,000. If you depend on a pension to complete a building project, you may never finish it,” he explained.

“We plead with the current government to help us. Stakeholders must also support our call so that we can secure better conditions of service. Teachers are suffering,” he appealed.

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