President Akufo Addo has given his assurance that the nursing and teacher training allowance in Ghana will not be impacted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) extended credit facility program.

This statement comes after the approval of a $3 billion arrangement with the IMF, with the first tranche of $600 million already disbursed.

The IMF program aims to address economic challenges and promote sustainable growth, but concerns were raised about the possible cancellation of the nursing and teacher trainee allowance to create fiscal space.

However, President Akufo Addo has emphasized the government's commitment to protecting this social intervention program during negotiations with the IMF.

In May 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 36-month arrangement with Ghana, providing a total of US$3 billion in financial support. The first tranche of US$600 million was immediately disbursed.

However, this IMF bailout package comes with certain conditions aimed at addressing economic challenges, ensuring fiscal discipline, and promoting sustainable growth in Ghana.

Some economists have suggested that the payment of nursing and teacher trainee allowances should be cancelled to create fiscal space.

Nevertheless, Senior Presidential Advisor Yaw Osafo-Maafo, speaking on behalf of President Akufo-Addo, emphasized during a public event that the government has strongly protected the nursing and teacher trainees allowance as one of its social intervention programs during the negotiation process with the IMF.

“Teacher trainees present, I know that the difficulty in the economic landscape which has resulted in government’s signing up for a program with International Monitory Fund IMF may cause you some concern. But none of the allowances of the teaching profession will be affected with our program with IMF. There were certain things which are not to be touched and the teacher allowances was on of such protected allowance. The difficulty in prompt payment is coming from our own mobilization of resources and not the IMF once you have it you can be sure that teachers allowances and the rest of it will be honoured appropriately”.

He expressed commitment of government to the teacher education and profession to ensure quality education.

President Akufo-Addo mentioned for instance that the introduction of licensing for teachers is a step to restore dignity in the profession.

“The introduction of licensing examination for teachers for example was done in the utmost good fate. It is aimed at lifting the image of the profession and avoiding situation where unqualified persons could pose as teachers and in the process bring the profession into disrepute”.

He added that “it is my expectation that interventions such as the distribution of laptops and payment of continuous professional development allowance to teachers will systematically improve the capacity and morale among the teaching profession and our teachers”.