Teachers put strike action on hold

The teacher unions, including the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) took the decision after a meeting with government on Sunday.

According to the teachers, even though they are yet to receive full payment of their salary arrears of Ghc16 million from government, they will hold on to the strike following the validation process that has begun by the Controller and Account General’s Department, CAGD and the Audit Department.

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Teachers across the country earlier this year served notice of a strike on February 29, 2016 if government failed to pay them their outstanding arrears by the end of February.

Government had subsequently met the various teacher unions on two different occasions to try and reach an agreement for the teachers to rescind their strike decision.

However, government on the third meeting with the teacher unions on Wednesday ordered the release of an amount of GHS 1,579,078.20 to settle 2012 salary arrears of teachers across the country.

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A communiqué signed by the various stakeholders at the meeting said arrears for 2013 and 2014 will, however, not be paid, until authorities validate some payment processes which will begin on Thursday.

The validation of documents is currently ongoing to pave way for the teachers to be paid their arrears.