Teachers in Volta Region protest unpaid allowances

Hundreds of teachers in the Volta Region took to the streets of Ho on Friday to draw stakeholders' attention to their plight.

Teachers from three unions—the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT-GH)—united to publicize their grievances, resulting in the diversion of traffic flow in the Ho Municipality.

Nearly 100 police officers were deployed to maintain order among the protesters, who wore red mourning clothes and carried placards.

Some placards cited by the Ghana News Agency read: "Teachers are not beggars," "We also deserve our allowances as teachers," "Treat teachers with decency," and "Our take-home pay can't take us home."

The protest march commenced at the Ho Central Market and concluded at the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, where a petition was presented to the government through the Regional Minister.

Mr. Solomon Takyi, Regional Chairman of CCT-GH, who delivered the petition, detailed a longstanding "battle" for better conditions of service.

"Since the negotiation of our Collective Agreement in 2009 and after the 2020 Collective Agreement, the unions have known no peace due to the government's continued failure to implement the agreed-upon allowances and fulfill promises given.

"Honorable, the allowances we have been battling with for over the past 15 years number 17. However, due to several considerations, we have reduced them to four. These are the Deprived Area Allowance, the Extra Assessment Allowance, the Book/Data/Online Allowance, and the upward adjustment of the CPD allowance.

"Despite this gesture of good faith from the unions, the government remains adamant and has demonstrated bad faith," Mr. Takyi stated, detailing the impact on the livelihoods of members of the teaching profession.

"This has often led to high despondency and disaffection towards leadership. We have had to endure, with our members complaining bitterly. These complaints have worsened, especially as our members suffer under the severe economic conditions in the country.

"We wish to emphasize that the last 24 months have been the most torturous for the Ghanaian teacher, with no sign of relief initiated by the employer," Mr. Takyi lamented. He added that the Ghana Education Service had two weeks to provide relief for teachers under an ultimatum.

"Pursuant to the above, we call on the employer to honor its promises and commitment to our teachers by addressing our concerns regarding the allowances enumerated above.

"We wish to stress that we have had enough of the nonchalance and aloofness of the employer and will no longer tolerate this situation. Consequently, we are giving the employer until May 13, 2024, to address our concerns.

"We wish to state in the strongest terms that, should the employer fail to address our demands by May 13, 2024, we shall call on leadership to act immediately."

Mr. Augustus Awiti, Volta Regional Coordinator, received the petition on behalf of the Regional Minister and stated that it would be forwarded to the relevant authorities.