PRETAG gives government two-week ultimatum over 20% deprived-area allowance

The Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) has given the government a two-week ultimatum to implement the 20% deprived-area allowance for teachers or face industrial action.

The Association had earlier threatened to embark on industrial action at the end of July over the outstanding demand but suspended the planned action following interventions by the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of PRETAG’s National Executive Council meeting in Koforidua on Monday, August 10, the National President of the Association, King Ali Awudu, said the government had until the end of August to address the concerns and avert disruptions in the education sector.

He also called on President John Dramani Mahama to ensure the implementation of the promotion of qualified teachers from Deputy Director to Director II and subsequently to Director I, which the Association says was a campaign promise made by the President in 2024.

“We first gave the deadline of the end of July. The Ghana Education Service and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission intervened, and we decided to suspend the July ultimatum,” he explained.

Mr Awudu said the extension of the deadline to the end of August was intended to give the government another opportunity to resolve the outstanding issues and prevent industrial action.

He warned that failure to address the Association’s concerns within the new deadline would leave the government responsible for any disruption that follows.

“By this August ultimatum, if what we want is not addressed, government should have itself to blame,” Mr Awudu added.