Teacher unions in Ghana are on the brink of another nationwide strike if the government fails to address their demands within the next twenty-four hours.
The unions, representing over 300,000 teachers, have expressed mounting frustrations over the slow pace of ongoing negotiations.
General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Musah Tanko, highlighted the concerns of the teachers in an exclusive interview with our labor correspondent in Accra. Despite calling off their previous strike, the unions are dissatisfied that their demands have not been met by the government.
Among the key issues raised by the teacher unions are the non-payment of a 20 percent basic pay allowance for teachers in deprived areas for the past 15 years. They are also advocating for the payment of a professional development allowance of GHC1,200 per year for teachers, which the government has yet to fulfill.
Mr. Tanko emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the teachers have reached their breaking point. He warned the government against taking the matter lightly, as failure to address their grievances could lead to another strike. He also criticized the Ministry of Finance for sending representatives without the authority to make binding decisions, which has hindered the negotiation process.
The teacher unions are calling on the government to act swiftly to prevent any disruption in the education sector. As tensions continue to rise, it remains to be seen whether the government will meet the demands of the teachers in time to avert a potential strike.
