Sekyere West district teachers on strike

Mampong (Ash), Nov 12, GNA- The 2002 year batch of basic schools trained teachers in the Sekyere West district of Ashanti, on Tuesday embarked on a strike action to back their demands for the payment of their correct salaries which had been in arrears for the past 15 months. They alleged that the district directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) had failed to pay them their transport and travelling allowances since they were posted to the district.

The teachers again complained that the district education office had failed to organise an orientation course for them since October 2002.

Mr Dennis Kwakwa, a spokesman for the striking teachers told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Mampong that their action was irreversible until all their demands were met.

When Mr Martin Owusu-Mensah, the District Director of Education was contacted, he explained that the delay in the payment of the correct salaries was a national issue and asked them to exercise restraint. On their travel and transport allowance, he said it was being released in bits and assured them that they will all be paid as soon as funds were made available by the government.

Mr Owusu-Mensah said the orientation for them could not be organised due to financial difficulties and that this would be done when funds were provided.