Government Allocates GHS500 Million for Teachers’ Housing Project: Mahama

Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government has allocated GHS500 million in the 2026 budget to kickstart the Teachers' Housing Scheme, also known as the Teacher Dabre Project. The initiative aims to enhance the welfare of teachers and is expected to expand to one billion cedis in the 2027 budget. According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama made this revelation during his address at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) 54th National Delegate Congress and Seventh Quadrennial Conference in Accra. The theme for the event was 'Education and Development: The Ghana Education Service (GES) at 50: Reflecting, Reviewing, Revising, and Growing the Profession and the Unions'. The project will be a collaborative effort between the government, GNAT, and the Republic Bank. The President outlined that the Finance Minister would deposit the GHS500 million into a revolving housing fund. GNAT and Republic Bank will contribute financially, and teachers will be able to apply for hous ing in preferred locations. If a teacher's house coincides with their area of posting, rent payments will contribute to owning the property, providing security after retirement. President Mahama emphasized the government's commitment to deepening its partnership with GNAT, actively exploring land availability to support the housing initiative. He stated that districts would be asked to provide land, facilitating the project's implementation. The collaboration aims to improve teachers' living standards, strengthen retention in rural areas, and ensure dignified and secure living conditions for educators. In the 2025 budget, the government had already allocated substantial funds for teacher training allowances, restored promotion eligibility, and placed diploma-upgraded teachers on appropriate salary scales. Additionally, the government is developing a 20% base pay incentive for teachers working in deprived areas. President Mahama highlighted that these measures are strategic investments in quality education and national transformation. He praised GNAT for its foresight and responsibility, recognizing it as a progressive trade union that has built strong economic institutions for its members' future security. The Teachers Fund, created by GNAT and recognized as one of the best-managed workers' funds, exemplifies transparency, prudence, and long-term value creation. President Mahama commended Mr. Kwame Pianim for his role in establishing the fund. GNAT's investment in Aviance Ghana, a ground-handling service provider at Kotoka International Airport, illustrates how unions can actively participate in strategic national economic sectors. GNAT has also invested in infrastructure, including hostels and a national headquarters with a multi-story car park, and explored opportunities like the Ghana-Sweden Medical Centre. There is potential for a partnership under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to diagnose and treat non-communicable diseases in collaboration with the Ghana-Sweden Cancer Center. Reverend Isaac Owusu, Nati onal President of GNAT, condemned recent attacks on teachers, declaring 2026 a year of zero tolerance for teacher assaults. He emphasized that any unwarranted attacks on teachers would invoke a spirit of solidarity.