By: Emmanuel Amoah
The leadership of Ghana’s pre-tertiary teacher unions has decided to suspend their planned demonstration, initially set for Tuesday, October 1, in the Greater Accra Region.
This decision came after extended discussions on Monday, September 30, involving union leaders, the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and representatives from the Ghana Education Service (GES). The talks, held in Accra, focused on addressing the unions’ concerns that had led to the protest announcement.
One of the key issues discussed was the allowance for teachers working in deprived areas. Dr. Adutwum provided documentation from the Ministry of Education, confirming that arrangements were being made for the payments, pending data validation by the GES and approval from the Ministry of Finance.
Additionally, the Minister announced that the government had fulfilled its commitment to increase the Professional Development Allowance (PDA) by 100%, with payments already processed in September.
The meeting was attended by officials from the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT-GH), and the management of the GES.
After the discussions, union leaders urged their members to stand down from the planned demonstration, assuring them that their concerns were being addressed.
The unions had previously outlined several unresolved issues in a press release on August 27. These included the need for negotiations on the Deprived Area Allowance, which was to begin within one month of the Collective Agreement signed on May 24, 2024, and the resolution of promotions for ranks such as Deputy Director (DD), Director II (DII), and Director I (DI) by September 2024.
Other grievances raised included 12 months of unpaid arrears for Tier-2 pension deductions, and challenges with the Public Services Commission (PSC), such as delays in promotions, reinstatements, and issues related to rank reductions.
