Teacher unions in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality have declared a sit-down strike and directed members to wear red armbands in protest over what they describe as the failure of authorities to act on the alleged assault of three teachers and the husband of a female teacher by armed military personnel at Adiewoso M/A Basic School.
The directive was announced by the leadership of the three pre-tertiary teacher unions, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (PRETAG) during a press briefing on Monday, May 25, 2026.
According to the unions, the strike action follows the expiration of an ultimatum issued to the Ghana Education Service (GES) and security authorities to respond to concerns raised after the incident.
“We have therefore decided to embark on the following actions to press home our demand for justice for our members who have been unjustly assaulted.”
Authorities Accused of Silence
The unions expressed disappointment that despite earlier petitions and a press conference held in Nsuaem on May 5, no official response had been received from either the Ghana Education Service or the security agencies.
“However, as of the time of meeting you today, no authority has responded to our demands,” the statement said.
The teacher groups argue that the continued silence from relevant institutions has deepened frustration among members and left the affected teachers without the support and justice they expected.
Criticism of Municipal Education Director
The unions also criticized the Municipal Director of Education for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Madam Catherine Andoh-Mensah, over her handling of the aftermath of the alleged assault.
According to the statement, the director visited the school a week after the incident but reportedly expressed concern over the absence of the affected teachers, who were said to be receiving treatment and recovering from both physical and psychological trauma.
The unions alleged that rather than facilitating medical care and police intervention, the director reprimanded the teachers for being absent from work.
“We are very upset by the Municipal Director’s conduct because when she visited on the very day the incident happened, we expected her to have asked the affected teachers to report the case to the police, collect medical forms and seek medical attention, but she failed to do that,” the statement noted.
The unions further argued that management should have considered temporarily closing the school or relocating staff to a safer environment following the incident.
“Those actions and inactions suggest that she does not care about the welfare of teachers in this municipality,” the statement added.
Strike Action Begins
As part of measures to intensify their demand for justice, the unions announced that all teachers in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality are to wear red bands to school and embark on a sit-down strike from Tuesday, May 26, to May 31, 2026.
The leadership warned that a full-scale strike would commence on June 1 if the concerns raised remain unresolved.
“Teachers in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality will from Monday, June 1, 2026 embark on a total strike if the issues raised are not addressed,” the unions cautioned.
They also called on all teachers within the municipality to support the industrial action in solidarity with their colleagues.
“We humbly call on all teachers in the municipality to comply with this directive to help get justice for the affected colleagues. Let us unite and go by the slogan: ‘Touch One, Touch All,’” the statement urged.
Background
The controversy stems from the alleged assault of three teachers and the husband of a female teacher at Adiewoso M/A Basic School by armed military personnel. The incident has sparked widespread concern among teachers in the municipality, with union leaders insisting that those responsible must be held accountable and adequate support provided to the victims.
The planned industrial action is expected to affect teaching and learning across schools in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality unless authorities intervene before the June 1 deadline.
