Teachers agree to call off strike

The leadership of the various teacher unions have heeded to a plea by President Mahama to suspend their strike.

This follows a meeting between President John Mahama and the leadership of the striking teachers, at the Flagstaff House, Monday.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) on March 15, 2013, held a joint news conference to declare indefinite industrial action to protest unpaid allowances and better conditions of service. They were subsequently joined by the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) and the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU).

The week-long strike has brought activities to a halt in most schools particularly, the invigilation of the ongoing WASSSCE, with some school heads resorting to the use of non teaching staff such as cooks and artisans to invigilate.

Although the leadership of the teachers agreed to back down on their stance, they pointed out they would have to consult their membership.

President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Samuel Doe Alobia told the media after the meeting: “We are taking him (President Mahama) for his word, if our Council takes the appeal and we postpone, then later we realise that the promise is not fulfilled, then we’ll later advise our selves”.

“I will ask that we suspend it, if the demand is not met, then we get back,” Mr. Alobia stated.