The Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) has stated that the government's pledge to clear outstanding promotion arrears will not be enough to bring an end to the ongoing nationwide teachers' strike. According to PRETAG, several demands contained in agreements with the government remain unresolved, making it difficult for teacher unions to suspend the industrial action based solely on assurances over the payment of arrears.
One of the outstanding concerns is a 20% professional allowance, which PRETAG claims has remained outstanding despite commitments made by successive administrations. The association says teachers are still waiting for concrete action on the allowance, as well as other provisions contained in their collective agreement. This has been an ongoing issue, with former Education Minister Alex Tetteh-Enyo announcing in 2009 that the government intended to introduce the allowance for teachers.
PRETAG President King Ali Awudu expressed frustration that the issue has persisted for so long, stating that "we are in 2026, and we are talking about the same thing that His Excellency also promised." He maintained that the unions need more than assurances on promotion arrears before reconsidering the strike. Awudu emphasized that their collective agreement with the government has not been met, specifically pointing to the last two agreements that have not been fulfilled.
The association acknowledges the government's decision to begin processing some outstanding promotion arrears and the commitment to complete the payments by October 30. However, Awudu stressed that this move does not resolve the broader issues underpinning the industrial action. He stated that concrete steps on the outstanding demands would be necessary for the unions to reconsider their position, making it a difficult decision to call off the strike.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has assured that the government will settle the outstanding promotion arrears by October 30, taking responsibility should the deadline not be met. Despite this, the teacher unions have maintained their strike pending action on their wider demands and conditions of service. The situation remains tense, with teachers awaiting concrete action on their demands.
The strike has had significant implications for the education sector, with some communities taking alternative measures to ensure that students continue to receive education. For instance, an assemblyman and a queenmother have taken over classroom duties in one community. The government has urged teachers to return to the classroom, with the Deputy Education Minister appealing to striking teachers to resume their duties.
The government has committed to resolving teachers' concerns, with the Vice President also assuring that efforts are being made to address the issues. However, PRETAG's stance remains clear: until the outstanding demands are met, the strike will continue. The situation will likely remain a point of contention until a resolution is reached.
Key points
- - The government's commitment to clear promotion arrears by October 30 is insufficient to end the teachers' strike. - The 20% professional allowance remains an outstanding concern for teachers. - Concrete steps on outstanding demands are necessary for the unions to reconsider their position.
