Call off strike amid 2022 BECE – Nana Addo begs teachers
His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo following the impending conduct of the 32nd edition of BECE for School Candidates slated for October this year has called on public school teachers to call off strike action.
In a 2022 Eid ul-Adha speech sighted by AcademicWeek, the President urged the striking teachers to return to classrooms pending the outcome of the 20% Cost of living allowance (COLA) negotiation on Tuesday, July 12, 2022.
“I want to add my voice to appeal to teachers to return to classrooms pending the outcome of the negotiations, so that the education of our children, some of whom are preparing to sit their final exam is not affected,” he stated.
Nana Addo’s appeal comes after four teacher unions (GNAT. NAGRAT, TEWU and CCT-GH) July 4, 2022, embarked on an industrial action to register their displeasure over the government’s decision not to grant them 20% COLA.
The striking unions in a joint press statement said they on several occasions have engaged the government on the COLA to teachers and educational workers of pre-tertiary education level but their all efforts prove futile.
“Unfortunately, these calls have fallen on deaf ears, we wish to use this forum to express our displeasure over this insensitivity of the government regarding our demand,” the Teacher Unions stated in a statement issued on July 4.
Citing an increase in fuel prices, goods and other services, the leadership of the education sector Unions said their decision to embark on the nationwide industrial action is influenced by the high cost of living in the country.
“Inflation in the country is currently 27.6% and continues to escalate and Infinitum; only God knows when this will abate. We are much appalled at the inept attitude of the government relative to call for COLA,” the Unions noted.
According to the leadership, members of the recognized Teacher Unions (GNAT, NAGRAT, TEWU and CCT-GH) can no longer bear the hardship. Even more so, they reject the inequality of salaries in the public service of this country.
“We have been compelled under the current circumstance to publicly communicate to Ghanaians on our intention to go on strike have gone passed the June 30, 2022 deadline we gave the government for payment of COLA
Consequently, we have decided to embark on strike action, effective today Monday, July 4, 2022. By this we are informing the public that we are withdrawing all services in all pre-tertiary educational spaces,” the teachers stated.
