Accra:The Member of Parliament for Offinso North, Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, emphasized the importance of the government fulfilling its promises to teachers following the suspension of a nationwide strike by organized teacher unions. The strike was called off by groups including the Ghana National Association of Teachers, the National Association of Graduate Teachers, and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana, allowing teachers to return to classrooms.
According to Ghana Web, Dr. Asamoah commended the over 300,000 teachers for prioritizing the education of Ghanaian children despite their grievances and praised the union leadership, parents, and relevant bodies for their roles in resolving the issue. He noted that the strike could have been avoided if the government had met its obligations to the teachers.
The demands from the teachers included the implementation of agreed conditions such as automatic placement on new salary grades for promoted teachers, payment of a 20 percent Deprived Area Allowance, and timely negotiations for a new Collective Agreement. Despite an agreement on August 31, 2026, to address these issues, progress had been slow, leading to a withdrawal of services on September 25 after a missed deadline.
Dr. Asamoah highlighted the negative impact of the strike on schoolchildren, especially those preparing for key exams, and stressed the importance of fulfilling commitments to avoid future disruptions. The government has set deadlines for various payments and agreements, including promotion arrears and allowances, with the Minority urging transparency and oversight to ensure compliance.
The Minority Caucus outlined several measures to prevent future disputes, including accurate placement and payment for promoted teachers and improvements to the promotion system. Dr. Asamoah reiterated the need for the government to focus on implementing existing agreements to support teachers and maintain educational quality in Ghana.