TEWU Security Personnel Threaten Nationwide Strike Over 14 Years of Unpaid Allowances

About 4,500 security officers under the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) have threatened to embark on industrial action next week over longstanding unpaid overtime allowances. The workers, who provide security for schools and educational institutions across Ghana, say they have not been compensated for weekend and holiday duties for the past fourteen years.
TEWU General Secretary, King James Azortibah, stated that the officers routinely work 12-hour shifts, including Sundays and public holidays, yet have been denied their rightful pay due to the non-implementation of agreed conditions of service. He warned that the union has exhausted all avenues for redress, including petitions to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ghana Education Service, and the National Labour Commission.
The planned strike signals escalating tensions between TEWU and government authorities, with the union emphasizing that the issue disproportionately affects security personnel, who are often overlooked despite their critical role. TEWU, which represents over 36,000 workers nationwide, also raised concerns about delays in implementing its broader collective agreement.
With May Day approaching, the union is calling for immediate government intervention to resolve the dispute and prevent disruptions across the education sector. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies are yet to respond to the claims.