Teachers declare indefinite strike over cost of living allowance

At least four teacher unions in Ghana have declared an indefinite strike over their cost of living allowance (COLA).

They are the Ghana National Association of Teachers, National Association of Graduate Teachers, Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union.

The strike takes effect Monday 4 July 2022, the unions said at a press conference in Accra.

They said the government failed to meet their 30 June deadline to pay their members the cost of living allowance.

“We have been compelled under the current circumstances to publicly communicate to Ghanaians on our intention to go on strike having gone passed the 30 June deadline we gave government for the payment of cost of living allowance,” the general secretary of GNAT, Thomas Musah, addressed the media.

“Consequently, we have decided to embark on strike from today, Monday 4 July 2022. By this, we are informing the general public that we are withdrawing services in all the pre-tertiary education institutions. This includes teaching and non-teaching staff.,” he added.

The teachers are fighting for the payment of between 20% and 30% of their salaries as a cost of living allowance. They said the allowance will cushion them on the back of current economic conditions and the worsening plight of teachers.

The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations has initiated moves to meet with the unions.

Below is the full statement from the teacher unions: