The Coalition of Newly Recruited Graduate Teachers has said they will boycott the celebration of this year’s May Day celebration over the non-payment of their salaries.
According to the group, the government has failed to pay them their seven-month arrears in spite of assurances to do so.
Today, 1st May is celebrated across the world as International Labour Day known in Ghana as May Day.
It is in commemoration of labourers and the working class who build the country.
May Days are declared national holidays with National parades are held across the country to celebrate the efforts of Ghanaian workers.
Workers of all professions, including teachers, take part in such national parades but the group say they would not take part in this year’s parade because they believe the government is taking them for granted.
The secretary of the coalition, Charles Chetu who spoke to Citi News on Sunday said, the Controller and Accountant General’s Department is yet to tell them when their salaries would be paid.
“As we speak, we haven’t been paid. Today [Sunday] is 30th of April. We are going to mark workers day tomorrow. Teachers, specifically we haven’t been paid, not to even talk about our arrears so we have decided that since the government, our employers have taken us for granted then we will not participate in the workers day celebrations.”
Charles Chetu added that, “As we speak now, we are hungry and we cannot participate in that program. To worsen our plight schools are reopening this week and we are expected to report to our various places of work and unfortunately, we haven’t been paid. Controller and Accountant General’s Department has not even communicated to us even on the delayed payment of salaries. How are we reporting to these places of work and how are we going to survive until when they are happy they pay us our money so we think the best thing is that we stay away off since we are not considered relevant in the running of the affairs of this country.”
Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo will later today [Monday] address Ghanaian workers at the national celebration of May Day at the Black Star square in Accra.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.
(Via: CitiFM Online Ghana)
