The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has blamed the latest nationwide strike action by teachers on what it described as the lack of proficiency on the part of the latter in solving the teachers allowance issues.
Government failed to find amicable solution with the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) at a crunch meeting held over the weekend, culminating in the strike action by the teachers since Monday.
In an interview to elicit his views on what many observers consider as a very sad situation for government, teachers and students alike, the Communications Director of the NPP, Nana Akomea told The New Crusading GUIDE that it is difficult to understand why a government which have benefited from over $1billion oil revenue, $8billion in loans and a deficit of Gh�8.7billion just last year alone could still be struggling with �basic teachers allowance.�
He stated that the government made a lot of political capital out of the implementation of the Single Spine Structure (SSS) and carried it all through the electioneering campaign last year, even though the teachers� union including NAGRAT came out to condemn the advert.
�The chickens have now come home to roast and suddenly the SSS is leading to strikes, so what was the boast about if it wasn�t just for propaganda?�
Nana Akomea said, �the government and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission have been very tardy in concluding negotiations with teachers over the SSS issues in the last two years and this is the direct cause of the spate of strikes we have seen in the last two years by the teachers, as well as the issues with their retention premium which is yet to be completely handled.�
The Communications Director further stated, �the reckless and profligate spending by government last year does not seem to have had any impact on the welfare of the ordinary Ghanaian, but rather what we have been left with after all this huge expenditure is rationing of electricity, water, rampant gas shortage, massive unemployment, the ever rising cost of living and fall in the growth of the real sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing industry, health, education among others.�
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