Government freezes salaries of striking polytechnic teachers

• Posted on August 23, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Government has decided to freeze the salaries of striking polytechnic teachers.

This was after the Ministry of Education issued a directive to the Controller and Accountant General’s department on Friday ordering them not to pay the August salaries of the striking teachers.

The members of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) have been on a nationwide strike for three months.

The teachers are demanding the payment of their research and book allowances.

The Education Ministry has severally appealed to POTAG members to return to the classroom as the money will be paid.

In a bid to force the teachers back to the classroom, the Ministry threatened to freeze their salaries.

Nonetheless, the teachers are still adamant to resume work and have accused the Ministry of not showing enough resolve to give in to their demands.

Reacting to the Ministry’s directive, the president of POTAG, James Dugrah said although they are yet to be officially informed about the decision, the association is unfazed.

According to him, the case is in court and “the National Labour Commission has sent us back that the earlier ruling of the High court should be reviewed. So for us at POTAG we are waiting.”

By: Benjamin Epton Owusu