The Ghana Education Service (GES) has asked agitating public school teachers across the country who are seeking to opt out from the GES-SIC insurance policy program to do so now.

The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa said all teachers were compulsorily rolled onto the scheme, but those who want to withdraw have up to the end of August to pick, fill and submit an exit form to opt out of the policy.

The GES-SIC insurance policy program, however has been suspended for the month of August, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa told a Press Conference.

“As of 6th August, we have written formally to the Controller and Account-General to suspend the programme for August. We are suspending it for August. Subsequently, we will resume in September…All those who are not interested, we want them to come up and pick a form. After this month, any staff who does not come out to get his or name removed from the list, is deemed to be a member. However, at any point in time, if you want to exit, you can exit,” he said.

There has been hue and cry from some teacher unions following the GES -SIC Insurance Policy with a deduction of GH¢10 from Teachers’ Salaries. Some demanded a refund in June last year on the back of the complaints and confusion that rocked the scheme.

The deduction was effected in June 2018 and was believed to be in consultation with the Teacher Unions.

The Government of Ghana, through the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Teacher Unions, as part of its commitment to promote the welfare of its members instituted a Group Life Insurance Package for both teaching and non-teaching staff of GES. The underwriter is SIC Life Company Limited.

The policy is aimed at ensuring that every teaching and non-teaching staff of GES has a minimum level of insurance cover.

Members’ contributions are scheduled to be deducted directly at source through the Controller & Accountant General’s Department.

First deduction of the premium was done at the end of June 2018, while the cover was scheduled on 1st July 2018.