Three (3) teacher unions in the Central Region have petitioned the Regional Minister, Hon. Justina Marigold Assan to call on the attention of the government to fulfil its ignored promises on allowances owed teacher in the country.

Teacher unions who jointly embarked to petition the Regional Minister include, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers - Ghana (CCT-GH).

The petition prior to its submission, witnessed a massive procession by the respective union members through the principal streets of Cape Coast, clad in red with displayed placards.

The unions in their demand to the government through the Regional Minister who by profession is a trained teacher, have threatened to proceed on a strike action should their request this time around hit the iceberg, owing to the government's continued failure to implement allowances agreed on.

The petition was received by the Regional Internal Auditor, Mr. Waszy Balukia Mukaila since the Central Regional Minister and her Director were both absent on an equally important assessment elsewhere.

Abdulai Baba Yussif, the Central Regional Secretary for GNAT who on behalf of the teacher unions addressed the media, recounted that allowances they have been battling over the past 15 years are 17, but due to several consideration by the teacher unions, they reduced them to four (4).

Hence, have over the years been on the government only for the deprived area allowance, extra assessment allowance, the book/data/online teaching support allowance, and the upward adjustment of the CPD allowance.

They bemoaned that despite this gesture of good faith, government still acts adamant and has demonstrated bad faith. 

According to them, anything short of their demand, will have them call on leadership to take action immediately, and should such happen, teachers should be pardon of the blame.

Some members of the teacher unions, however, expressed disappointment in the Regional Minister over her absence to receive their petition, having been previewed of their coming amid her awareness of the plight of teachers in the country as a teacher herself.

They again peeved at their leaders for letting them embark on a fruitless journey to the Regional Coordinating Council, upon a prior notice that the Regional Minister wouldn't be available to receive their petition. Thus, warned their leaders never to call on them on such unproductive activity ever again.

Sompaonline.com/Eric Annan