Strike Action By Teachers' Body Is Needless - Coalition For Integrity In Governance (COFIIG)

The constant strike actions declared by the various labour groups in this country must be a cause for worry by all well-meaning citizens of this country.

We are all for the welfare of workers and we expect that all those on government payroll whose actions and in-actions goes a long way to affect the discharge of public duties to be a bit circumspect in their desires to embark on strike actions.

While a section of Ghanaian workers including teachers are on strike on some pension issues to be address, we were surprised by yet another strike from the teachers' body dubbed "Strike within strike". One of the cardinal issue raised was that the government had resolved to pay only three months arrears to those workers who have worked for several months in some cases 18 months.

We find this aspect of the statement rather misleading and a calculated attempt to attract attacks on the government. Our checks have revealed that the position of government with regards to the payment of arrears to government was that; three (3) months arrears would be paid in bulk whiles the remaining balances would be spread over a period or time and paid over same period. The Teachers' body was clearly aware of this position of government before coming out with a communique to embark on this rather avoidable strike action.

The Coalition of Concerned Teachers - Ghana (CCT), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), and National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) for once, have come together to secure their 'interest'. In all the issues raised, where lies the fault of the school child who had fulfilled his part of the obligation of teaching and learning by paying the approved fees for services rendered?

It has become a constant and an easy phenomenon to use the weakest link in the education cycle for the pursuit of interest that goes a long way to affect the innocent school children.

In any case, it is clear that government had not reneged on its obligations to meet the demands of these teachers. The processes might have delayed and must be a genuine cause for worry of all, but taking advantage of the situation to derail the desires and aspirations of innocent school children is unacceptable.

It is appropriate to exhibit good faith at all times. Dealing with each other with excessive suspicions would always take bodies far away from reaching a consensus for the common good of those who rely on their services for survival. Thank you!

Stephen Kwabena Attuh
Governance and Political Analyst
0243 718 353