Members of the pre-tertiary teacher unions in Ghana are gearing up to resume their strike action before the end of this week.
The unions, which include the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, are expressing frustration over the lack of a clear mandate from the government negotiators during the recent discussions.
Three weeks ago, the unions called off their strike to give room for negotiations on their conditions of service. However, they are now demanding that discussions include provisions for rent and professional development allowances, as well as allowances for teachers serving in underprivileged areas.
Despite the temporary halt in strike action, the union leaders have expressed disappointment in the slow progress of negotiations by the government. GNAT’s General Secretary, Thomas Musah Tanko, hinted at the possibility of the strike resuming, stating, “There is an uneasy calm, the Ministry of Finance must hear this, sometimes the people they send to the meetings cannot even talk, in the coming days if anything happens, we cannot be blamed for it.”
Similarly, the President of NAGRAT, Angel Carbonu, urged the government to act swiftly, emphasizing that the Fair Wages Commission may not have the authority to negotiate with the unions. He revealed that the Labour Commission has given them until Wednesday to provide a briefing and they plan to request an extension as they seek clarity on the negotiation process.
