The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to immediately implement the 20% Deprived Area Allowance for teachers working in hard-to-reach communities.
The Minority Caucus Committee on Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions said the allowance is provided for under Section 17(2) of the 2024 Collective Agreement for Teaching Staff within the Ghana Education Service.
In a statement signed by the Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, the Minority said the failure to implement the allowance is among the grievances that have contributed to the decision by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Union (PRETAG) to declare an indefinite industrial action.
The Caucus has therefore urged the government to implement the 20% allowance without further delay, particularly for teachers serving in deprived and hard-to-reach communities.
It described the allowance as an agreed condition of service and accused the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) of failing to implement conditions agreed with teachers.
The Minority also called on the government to immediately engage the teacher unions to conclude negotiations on a new Collective Agreement and ensure that promoted teachers are placed on their new grades and paid outstanding arrears dating back to January 2026.