By Emmanuel Nyatsikor
Adaklu Kodzobi (V/R), Oct. 09, GNA – Reverend Samuel Amegboe, a retired Pastor of the Assemblies of God Church, has observed that the frequent strikes by teachers at all levels could contribute to the inefficient manpower of the country.
“The two weeks of loss of instruction hours have huge implications for the nation’s manpower and future,” he added.
Rev. Amegboe in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Adaklu Kodzobi, said this in reaction to the ongoing nationwide strike action by the three Pre-Tertiary Teacher Unions in the country.
The teacher unions which started the industrial action from September 25, this year are Ghana National Association of Teachers, National Association of Graduate Teachers and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association.
Rev. Amegboe contended that the length of the strike action was now becoming a worry not only to the government but also parents and students.
“The immediate victims of this struggle between the teachers and government are parents and students with the nation bearing the ultimate damage,” he noted.
Rev. Amegboe therefore added his voice to calls on teachers to go back to work in the national interest whilst the government worked to fix their grievances.
“Ghanaians are pleading our noble professionals to go back to work and consider the effect the strike is having on the children and sacrifice for their sake,” he said.
He was of the view that the government would surely honour the agreement it has with the teachers no matter how long it takes.
Rev. Amegboe called on the government not to be sleeping over her agreement with workers, adding that this practice was unacceptable.
“Once an agreement has been reached, the government cannot go back to sleep until it is woken by strikes of workers.
“Teachers and their families also deserve a decent living,” he noted.
Rev. Amegboe advised pupils and students not to see the strike period as an opportunity to “fool around” but visit libraries to learn and sit by their books in their homes.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo