Yagbonwura appeals to Mahama to intervene in Savannah College of Education staff strike

Yagbonwura, the Overlord of Gonjaland and protector of the Savannah College of Education, has implored President John Mahama to step in and mediate the ongoing strike by the college's teaching and non-teaching staff. This labor action, now in its fifth day, has become a pressing matter for both the college and the Savannah Region, necessitating immediate intervention from the President to resolve the workers' grievances.

"I'm confident and sure that my Son, the President, would agree that the issue can be resolved," Yagbonwura stated in an interview with JoyNews, conveyed through Jantonwura Peter Awusi Yakubu, the Secretary to the Wasipe Traditional Council. The Overlord's primary concern lies in the strike's impact on students, particularly the disruption of food services as kitchen staff have joined the protest.

He expressed worry over the college's inability to provide meals to students, with reports indicating that the staff involved in food preparation have also walked out. Approximately 170 workers from the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana and the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana are involved in the strike.

Their demands include migration to the public payroll system, citing non-payment for services since the college's government takeover in March 2025. The workers are also seeking the establishment of a college Management Unit to facilitate their transition to the public payroll. This dispute has reportedly contributed to the departure of 17 teachers to other institutions.