Teacher Unions Extend Strike After Emergency Meeting Fails to Reach Agreement with Education Ministry
After weeks of industrial action, the six striking teacher unions remain firm in their stance as negotiations with the Ministry of Education failed to yield a resolution during an emergency meeting held yesterday.
Despite multiple discussions involving key stakeholders such as the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, Vice-Chancellors Ghana, the Vice-Chancellors Tertiary Union, and the Ministry of Finance, no consensus was reached on the unions’ demands.
Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng, explained that several critical issues remain unresolved, causing the deadlock to persist.
He acknowledged that while progress had been made on some fronts, the outstanding matters continue to delay any final agreement that could end the strike.
The unions’ demands, centered around better wages, improved working conditions, and the payment of outstanding allowances, have led to the prolonged industrial action that has disrupted academic activities nationwide.
The striking teachers have consistently expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations, and yesterday’s meeting was no exception.
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Meanwhile, Sandy Kumi, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana’s UCC chapter, expressed the unions’ growing dissatisfaction with the lack of concrete outcomes.
“We need solutions, not promises,” Kumi emphasized, reflecting the unions’ frustration with what they perceive as government inaction. He warned that the strike would continue indefinitely if their demands were not met with tangible results rather than vague assurances.
As the deadlock drags on, the strike continues to cripple educational institutions across the country, with students and parents anxiously awaiting a resolution.
The unions have vowed to hold firm until their demands are met, while the government faces increasing pressure to find a swift and satisfactory resolution to avoid further disruption to the academic calendar.
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Story by: Osei Akoto (Teacher Kojo) #Ahotoronline.com
