President of the Private Education Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), King Ali Awudu, has issued a stern warning to the government over the continuous delay in paying salaries of newly employed teachers and nurses.
Speaking on Joy Prime’s Prime Insight on Saturday, October 11, during discussions on the protest by aggrieved nurses and teachers, Mr Awudu said the unions’ patience was wearing thin — and that the government would have itself to blame if unrest erupts before the end of the year.
“The simple thing we are saying here is that the unions are sending a strong warning to the state and to government in general. If they don’t pay these teachers and nurses so that they can have money to celebrate Christmas, the government should not blame anybody for what will happen in November and December,” he cautioned.
Mr Awudu warned that a joint industrial action by teachers and health unions could bring the country to a standstill.
“If teachers of pre-tertiary education, PRETAG, GNAT, NAGRAT, etc., and the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association come together and lay down their tools, this country will be in shambles. They know this, so they should stop trying our patience,” he said.
He accused politicians of neglecting the welfare of public sector workers while prioritising their own comfort and privileges.
“When MPs need money, they get it. We were all here when we heard that MPs were being given about GH₵100,000, or GH₵150,000 or even GH₵200,000 to fuel their cars and go to their constituencies to inspect projects,” he lamented.
“You see, the politicians just don’t care. Even our Tier 2 pension is not being paid, and the government doesn’t care. When you speak, they give you rhetoric. I’m telling them that the unions have given them enough honeymoon, and they should be careful,” he added.
Mr Awudu insisted that the government must pay all outstanding salaries and allowances by the end of the year or face nationwide industrial action.
“If they don’t pay the teachers from now till 31st December, we will not rest. They should pay the teachers, and they should pay the nurses,” he stressed.
He further questioned how health workers could be expected to perform effectively under such conditions.
“How can a nurse who is hungry go and give a proper injection to a patient?” he asked.
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