Pre-tertiary teacher unions in the country have suspended a planned demonstration that was set for Tuesday, October 1, 2024, in Accra.
This decision came after an extended meeting on Monday, September 30, 2024, between Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, senior officials from the Ghana Education Service (GES), and union leaders.
The meeting addressed several critical issues, including allowances for teachers in deprived areas.
Dr. Adutwum presented official documents from the Ministry of Education, confirming that the payment process was underway, pending final data validation by GES and approval from the Ministry of Finance.
In addition, the minister announced that the government had fulfilled its commitment to increase the Professional Development Allowance (PDA) by 100%, with payments already processed in September 2024.
Representatives from the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT-GH), and GES management attended the meeting.
After reviewing the progress, union leaders urged their members to call off the protest, assuring them that their concerns were being addressed.
The unions had initially planned the protest due to unresolved issues from an Agreement signed in May 2024.
Key grievances included delays in negotiating the Deprived Area Allowance, unaddressed promotions for senior teachers, and 12 months of outstanding Tier-2 pension deductions.
The unions also pointed to ongoing challenges with the Public Services Commission (PSC), including delays in rank upgrades and reinstatements.