President Akufo-Addo begs striking teachers to return to the classroom

The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appeal to striking teachers to return to the classroom while negotiations continue over the Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA).

The President made the appeal at this years’ Edul-Adha celebration held in Accra on Saturday July 9.

“I am aware that some teacher unions have declared strike in pursuit of a twenty per cent Cost of Living Allowance. I am happy that yesterday, the teachers were joined by other members of the organised labour under the Trades Union Congress to sit down with government led by the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations and the Minister for Education to begin negotiations on this matter”.

“I want to add my voice to the appeal by the outstanding Minister for Employment and Labour Relations Hon Ignatius Baffur Awauh , Member of Parliament for Sunyani West for the teachers to return to the classrooms, pending the outcome of the negotiations so that the education of our children, some of whom are preparing to sit their final exams, is not affected,” the President, Nana Akufo-Addo said.

The President said Ghana is in a difficult place just like all countries in the world, however, government is working diligently to address the challenges that confront the country and its citizens in general.

“We are in a difficult place; the world is in a difficult place. Leaders around the world, like we are doing here in Ghana, are working assiduously to resolve the fundamental challenges that have plunged the world into the current economic conditions in which it finds itself. But, just as the efforts of Hagga resulted in the discovery of Zamzam well, from which we drink these day, I am confident that soon, we shall discoverer our own Zamzam well”, he said.

Pre- Tertiary Teachers strike over COLA

Pre-Tertiary teacher unions including the Association of Teachers, National Association of Graduate Teachers, Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union across the country are currently on strike following government failure to meet their demand for a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).

The demand was necessitated by the rising cost of living in the country since January this year which has become a matter of concern for all Ghanaians.

So far, negotiations between the government and unions have not yielded any result.

Source: GhanaPlus.com