News:
September 4, 2014
Member of Parliament for Ayawaso Central, Hon. Henry Quartey has said he gets frightened whenever he hears government expressing its intention to establish a new fund, as that has become an avenue for siphoning state funds.
According to him, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has failed to prudently manage funds that have been set up ever since it assumed power and that it will be waste of public resources to set up a new fund.
Government has scrapped the book and research allowance for lecturers of tertiary institutions. This follows the authorization of the Controller and Accountant General to open an account and transfer an amount of GH¢3,750,000.00 into the Research and Innovation Facility.
The new fund replaces the book and research allowances normally paid to lecturers in the country and it is to encourage more research work in tertiary institutions; whilst realizing its full benefits.
Hon. Henry Quartey made the comments while contributing to a discussion on Peace FM’ Kokrokoo show Thursday in relation to the calling off of the strike action by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) after they reached an agreement with government on Wednesday.
The strike was in protest of non-payment of market premium arrears and book allowances government owed them.
He said his skepticism about the Research Fund stems from the poor manner in which funds like the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GET Fund) and the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) have been inefficiently managed, adding that “ this Research Fund is just for chop chop”.
Ghanamps.gov.gh