GNAT, NAGRAT teachers hold demonstration
Hundreds of teachers comprising members of the Ghana National Associations of Teachers (GNAT) and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) on Wednesday demonstrated in the Tamale Metropolis amidst drumming and singing, chanting: “No teacher, no Atta Mills.
The teachers, who were clad in red bands, started their demonstration from the Jubilee Park and went through the principal streets to the Metropolitan Office of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and again to GNAT office where they presented their petition.
Some of the demonstrators were carried placards some of which read; “Uncle Atta, we are fed up”, “Spine swine, Atta why”, “No single spine, no teaching”, “You did not fulfill your promise”, “No teacher, no Atta Mills” and among others.
Mr. Isaac Oudreguo, President of the Concerned Teachers of the Tamale Metropolis who led the demonstration, demanded among others that there should be the restoration of their professional allowance under category ‘2’, correction of wrongful placement on grades, levels and steps.
He demanded that there should be the correction of anomalies and irregularities, payment of all differences and institution of allowances such as research, supervision, vehicle maintenance, hospital, risk and book allowances adding that all must be harmonized and monetized as category ‘2’ allowances.
Mr. Oudreguo said they would resolve to embark on a full-scale strike action on 31st March if their demands were not met adding that “We are already on sit-down strike”.
“We call on Mr. George Smith-Graham, CEO of Fair Wages to apologized to teachers in the country for demeaning and undermining their integrity with an ill-statement that ‘Teachers should not compare themselves with the police’, he said.
Mr. Oudreguo said Mr. Smith-Graham’s incompetent and politically inclined and will cause havoc if he remains in office” adding that their demands were purely a teachers’ affair without any political colouration.
Madam Zinabu Ziblim, the Deputy Tamale Metropolitan Director of Education who received the petitions, pledged to forward it to the appropriate quarters for redress.
Meanwhile, GNA checks on some schools in the Tamale Metropolis saw some teachers sitting in their school compounds and saying that they would continue to sit down until the anomalies were addressed.
Source: GNA