Dr Kingsley Agyemang, MP for Abuakwa South, has called on the Ghanaian government to prioritize paying striking teachers over spending on the proposed GH₵2 billion Accra-Kumasi Expressway. The MP's comments come as the indefinite teachers' strike continues, with pre-tertiary teacher unions demanding resolved promotion-related payments, the Collective Agreement, and the Deprived Area Allowance. Dr Agyemang argued that the government must prove its financial strength by settling what is owed to teachers before spending on the expressway project.
The strike, which has disrupted schools nationwide, leaves basic and secondary school pupils across Ghana without regular classroom instruction. Dr Agyemang questioned the logic of prioritizing road infrastructure while teachers remain locked out of classrooms and children's education suffers. He suggested that if GH₵2 billion is genuinely available for the project, a portion could instead go toward settling the teachers' comparatively smaller demands.
Dr Agyemang emphasized that the matter of teacher pay is straightforward and should not be reduced to bureaucratic excuses. He stated that the teacher is deserving of their wage and urged the government to pay them. The MP also noted that repeated assurances from the government over time have eroded teachers' confidence, leaving unions unwilling to call off the strike on the strength of promises alone.
According to Dr Agyemang, the dispute cannot be resolved by the Education Ministry alone, as ministry officials can negotiate but do not control disbursement of funds. He called on the government to release the necessary resources to settle outstanding obligations. The MP's comments add political weight to union demands by directly contrasting the cost of settling teachers' dues with the scale of government spending planned for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.
The Controller and Accountant-General's Department (CAGD) had processed only 6,079 of 58,620 approved teacher promotions even as the strike disrupted schools nationwide. Dr Agyemang's call comes ahead of a meeting between the Education Ministry and teacher unions, which was scheduled to take place on Monday. The meeting aimed to try to resolve the impasse, but it is unclear if a new date has been set for government and unions to resume talks.
The strike has significant implications for Ghana's education sector, with Dr Agyemang warning that the government's inaction will have long-term consequences for the country's development. He urged the government to be honest with teachers if it is genuinely constrained financially, rather than making promises it cannot keep. The MP's comments have added to the growing pressure on the government to resolve the dispute.
The government's response to Dr Agyemang's call and the outcome of the meeting between the Education Ministry and teacher unions remain to be seen. The situation will continue to be monitored, with Chale News providing updates as more information becomes available. The strike has highlighted the need for the government to prioritize education and ensure that teachers receive the compensation they deserve.
Key points
- Dr Kingsley Agyemang urges government to pay striking teachers before spending on GH₵2 billion Accra-Kumasi Expressway.
- The strike has disrupted schools nationwide, leaving basic and secondary school pupils without regular classroom instruction.
- Dr Agyemang emphasizes that the matter of teacher pay is straightforward and should not be reduced to bureaucratic excuses.
