Teacher Unions call off planned protest after successful negotiations with Education Ministry

Pre-tertiary teacher unions in the country have suspended a planned demonstration initially scheduled for Tuesday, October 1, 2024, in the Greater Accra Region.

The unions reached this decision after a lengthy meeting on Monday, September 30, 2024, with Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and senior GES officials, where several pressing concerns were addressed.

At the heart of the discussions was the issue of allowances for teachers in deprived areas. Dr. Adutwum presented documentation from the Ministry of Education, confirming that payment processes were underway, pending final data validation by the GES and approval from the Ministry of Finance.

Dr. Adutwum also announced that the government had delivered on its promise to increase the Professional Development Allowance (PDA) by 100 percent, with payments having been processed in September 2024.

The meeting was attended by leaders from the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT-GH), and GES management.

After reviewing the progress made, union leaders called on their members to refrain from the protest, assuring them that their grievances were being taken seriously and addressed.

The unions had initially planned the demonstration over unresolved issues from a collective agreement signed in May 2024.

Key concerns included delays in negotiating the Deprived Area Allowance, unresolved promotions for teachers at higher ranks, and 12 months of arrears in Tier-2 pension deductions.

The unions also cited challenges with the Public Services Commission (PSC), including delays in upgrading and rank reinstatements.