The Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on the new government to involve the union in any review of the current Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.

In a New Year statement issued by the union’s General Secretary, Brother King James Azortibah, he emphasised the need for TEWU to be consulted in decisions on the country’s socio-economic policies, particularly concerning the Free SHS programme.

“TEWU urges the new government not to treat labour as an afterthought when taking major socio-economic policy decisions, such as any review of the Free Senior High School Programme, the 1992 Constitution, or Ghana-IMF agreements,” he stated.

“Labour’s input must be sought and seriously factored into any such future reviews, as the cumulative negative effect is borne by Ghanaian workers in both the formal and informal sectors,” he added.

Mr Azortibah further stressed that all voices should be heard in the nation’s development. “Let us remember that every voice in our country matters, and every effort we make together must contribute to strengthening and accelerating national progress,” he said.

The union also raised concerns about its wages and salaries. “It must be noted that TEWU was compelled to activate a nationwide strike in November 2024, which was later suspended with the assurance that the FWSC would expedite action on the affected institutions.

"It is important for the government to recognise that many of the issues regarding negotiations on the reviewed conditions of service only require signing off for implementation,” Mr Azortibah added. “We hope the delay tactics exhibited by some state agencies in the past will not be tolerated by the new government.”

TEWU remains optimistic that the new government will respond promptly to their concerns. “In this new year, with a new government in place, we believe that the swift conclusion of negotiations on the conditions of service for the affected institutions will allow the necessary financial commitments to be captured in the government's maiden budget for immediate implementation,” he concluded.