The Minority in Parliament has called for urgent government action to resolve the ongoing teacher strike, which entered its third day today.
According to the Caucus, the nationwide teacher strike by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) requires immediate attention.
The three unions began their industrial action on Friday, September 25, over outstanding promotion arrears, delays in negotiating a new collective agreement and the implementation of the deprived-area allowance.
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Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee and Assin South MP, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, who addressed the matter during a press conference on Tuesday, said the government must act quickly, arguing that Ghana cannot expect to build an educated and efficient population without properly addressing the concerns of teachers.
The government has since engaged the unions, with Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu assuring affected teachers that upgraded salaries would be reflected in September pay and that outstanding promotion arrears were expected to be paid from October.
The Assin South MP also condemned the September 23 attempted arrest of Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah at the High Court premises.
EOCO has confirmed that its officers attempted to arrest the MP in connection with an ongoing investigation, saying he had previously been invited for questioning.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour said the Minority would raise the matter on the floor of Parliament, insisting that constitutional principles and parliamentary privileges must be respected.
He stressed that the issues before Parliament, including the teacher strike, should not be treated as partisan matters but as concerns requiring institutional attention and accountability.