GES Pleads: Don�t Close Schools Yet

The Ghana Education Service (GES) is pleading with the Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS) not to shut down schools because their subventions will soon be paid. According to the acting Director-General of GES, Charles Aheto-Tsegah, plans are far advanced for the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to release the money to the schools. CHASS is scheduled to hold a National Executive Committee meeting on Thursday to decide when to close the schools over unpaid subventions. Government owes CHASS subventions which cover three terms [one academic year]. The GES promised to pay the first tranche of subsidy payments to government assisted SHS between July 14 and 19. Two weeks after this promise was made; the money is yet to be paid to schools. But speaking in an interview with Citi News, Mr. Aheto-Tsegah once again assured the head teachers the subsidies will be paid. He said a number of procedures have been completed �and we are just left with the Bank of Ghana� and once it�s done, I�m sure the bank will start processing it. He expressed the hope that from �today onwards, I think the funds will be available to them.� The GES director said he is not privy to how the banks process the funds but government assisted SHSs which deal with the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) will face a little challenge because �the commercial bank has its own challenges and that is beyond our control.� He pleaded for patience and understanding from CHASS because �definitely, we will see some results.�