Governance and Leadership Expert, Prof. Enoch Opoku Antwi, has backed the government’s decision to introduce a 20% incentive for teachers posted to rural areas, describing it as a well-deserved move to address the shortage of educators in remote communities.
Speaking on Prime News on ABC News GH, he noted that in the modern knowledge economy, education is key, and ensuring qualified teachers in rural areas is critical to national development.
“These rural areas lack teachers,” he stated, stressing that poor infrastructure and inadequate resources discourage teachers from accepting postings to remote locations. He emphasized that offering financial incentives is a step toward bridging the gap between urban and rural education.
“If you are giving 20% incentives to go to the villages, it is befitting of that,” he remarked, adding that teachers should not be blamed for refusing postings when conditions remain unfavorable.
Prof. Antwi urged the government to complement the incentive with improved infrastructure, accommodation, and teaching materials to make rural postings more attractive.
“It is none of the teachers’ fault to be posted there,” he explained, noting that without proper facilities, the incentives alone may not be enough to retain teachers in those areas.
He further suggested that future budgets should prioritize education investments to ensure long-term improvements in Ghana’s education system.
