MOTOR CYCLES CREATE PROBLEMS FOR TEACHERS (MIRROR, PAGE 34, JUNE 26, 2010)

From Joe Okyere, Cape Coast.

MOTOR cycles given to teachers by the Ministry of Education to alleviate their difficulties in commuting to school are hanging  like albatross on their necks.
The reason being apart from the irregular monthly deductions from their salaries, almost a year into the deal, the beneficiaries face the wrath of the police each time they ventured into town.
According to a number of the beneficiaries The Mirror spoke to, even though the Ministry promised to register the bikes for them, the promise has not been honoured.
Aside that, they could also not take insurance policies for the bikes, thus exposing them to risks in case they were involved in an accident.
They said the situation has pit them against the police who insisted that they could not use the bikes without registration numbers and insurance.
They said thieves had also taken advantage of their situation to steal the bikes.
According to them, they were told that a bike costs GH¢960.00 and that GH¢15.00 would be deducted from their salaries each month but the deductions had fluctuated with some of them being deducted GH¢66.00 a month.
They said no tangible explanation had been given and each time they went to the Ministry to find out, the only answer they got was that the anomaly would be rectified.
Owing to these problems, they could neither claim motor cycle maintenance nor fuel allowance.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed dismay at the way issues were being handled and expressed regret for taking the bikes.
They therefore called on the Ministry to step up efforts to remedy the situation.
When contacted, the Central Regional Budget Officer, Mr Robert Mensah, who doubles as acting officer in-charge of Finance and Administration said it was the Ministry of Education’s Logistics outfit which could clarify the situation.