The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called on the government to immediately declare a state of emergency to address the devastating impact of illegal mining popularly known as galamsey.
Additionally, GNAT is demanding the evacuation of all mining equipment from forest reserves and water bodies.
GNAT Secretary, Thomas Musah made these demands on Accra-based Channel One TV while outlining five urgent actions the government must put in place.
Mr Musah called for the revocation of law 2462 and the withdrawal of all mining and prospecting licenses in forests, protected reserves, and water bodies.
“Deploy Police and Military to remove and destroy all mining and earth-moving equipment in river bodies and forest reserves.
“Establish a special court to prosecute those involved in illegal mining (galamsey),” he stated.
Meanwhile, highlighting the dire situation facing Ghana, Mr Musah expressed down the five-member inter-ministerial committee set up by President Akufo-Addo will help finding lasting solutions to the menace.
Members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) staged a dramatic walkout on Deputy Education Minister, Prof Kingsley Nyarko, to express their deep disappointment and frustration over the government’s failed promise to provide laptops to teachers nationwide.
The walkout was a clear indication of the growing resentment among GNAT members, who are urging the government to immediately address their concerns and fulfill its promises. In 2021, the government deducted 30% of teachers’ salaries to undertake the “one teacher, one laptop” project, aimed at providing digital tools to enhance teaching and learning.
However, over two and a half years later, more than 50,000 teachers nationwide have not received their laptops, despite paying for them through salary deductions.
The aggrieved teachers, who gathered for their week-long annual meeting, hooted at Prof Nyarko and prevented him from delivering his speech on behalf of the government. The teachers shared their daily ordeal in the classroom, where the absence of laptops has interrupted teaching and learning, causing frustration and demotivation.
District Chairman of GNAT, Afigya Kwabre, Sarfo Sarpong, spoke on behalf of the group, expressing their disappointment and anger over the government’s failure to fulfill its promises. Sarpong revealed that the National Labour Commission, serving as a mediator, had given the government until the end of June to honor its part of the contract by supplying the outstanding laptops.
However, as of July 22, over 50,000 laptops were still left to be supplied, leaving teachers feeling betrayed and neglected. The walkout and protest by GNAT members serve as a strong reminder to the government to prioritize the needs and concerns of teachers, who are essential to the country’s education system.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), has asked all its regional secretariats to join Organised Labour in preparation for the planned demonstration against the imposition of VAT on domestic power consumption.
Organised Labour has scheduled next Tuesday, February 13 to embark on a demonstration should the government fail or refuse to withdraw the directive it issued for the Ghana Revenue Authority and the power distributors to implement the 15 percent VAT.
In a letter dated February 6, 2024, addressed to all its regional secretaries and titled ‘13TH FEBRUARY, 2024 NATIONWIDE DEMONSTRATION AGAINST 15% VAT ON ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION’, the teachers’ union said it participated in a meeting of Organised Labour held on Friday, 2nd February, 2024 at the Trade Union Hall in Accra at which “Leadership of Organised Labour decided to embark on a nationwide demonstration against government's directive to ECG and NEDCo to start the implementation of 15% VAT on residential consumption of electricity.”
According to GNAT, it agreed to the decision at the meeting to embark on the nationwide demonstration “against the imposition of this insensitive tax.”
“We are by this letter directing all our Regional Secretariats to join Organised Labour in their respective Regions in preparation towards this mammoth demonstration scheduled for Tuesday, 13th February, 2024 at all the Regional capitals”, the letter signed by Isaac Baah, Head of Compensation & Benefits on behalf of the General Secretary, said.
Organised Labour has rejected the imposition of VAT on domestic power consumption, arguing it would compound the already precarious economic situation of workers. An ultimatum for the government to withdraw the tax entirely has since January 29 expired, leaving Labour with its next step of a nationwide demonstration.
Labour has also indicated it will advise itself if the government does not respond positively to the demand after the demonstration.
Hundreds of members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) marched through Accra on Tuesday, October 1.
This was in protest against the government's delay in paying their 13-month arrears under the Tier 2 pension scheme.
The protest began at the Obra Spots in Nkrumah Circle and ended at the Independence Square which highlighted their grievances and a push for action.
Speaking to the media, the Greater Accra Regional Secretary, Peter Boateng called for urgent intervention from the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service and the government.
The leadership of Teacher Unions at the Pre-tertiary level of education in the country have unanimously agreed to suspend its intended demonstration scheduled to take place on Tuesday, October 1 in the Greater Accra region.
The suspension of the demonstration follows hours of meeting with the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the leadership of the Ghana Education Service and the leaders of the Teacher Unions in Accra on Monday.
After listening to the leadership of the Unions, the Education Minister explained to them the state of the various issues that have led to the Union's decision to embark on a demonstration.
On the issue of the payment of allowances for teachers in deprived areas, the Minister made available documents from his Ministry to the Ministry of Finance preparing to effect the payment following the validation of data from the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The Education Minister also informed the Unions that, the government had fulfilled its promise by increasing by 100 per cent the Professional Development Allowance (PDA) and also effecting the payment in September.
Present at the meeting were the leaders of the Teacher unions, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Coalition of +Concern Teachers (CCT-GH) and management of the Ghana Education Service.
Leadership of the Unions urged their members to stay away from the said demonstration since their issues were being addressed to their satisfaction.
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Over 1,000 members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) marched through the streets of Accra on Tuesday in protest against unresolved issues affecting their welfare.
The demonstration sought to draw the government's attention to the non-implementation of allowances for teachers in deprived communities, non-payment of Tier 2 pension contributions, delays in promotion, placement and upgrading, disparities in the Single Spine Pay Policy and challenges with salary reactivation for teachers.
The teachers are demanding swift action from the government to address these issues which continue to impact heavily on their welfare.
The protest, which started at 8 a.m. from the former Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, proceeded to the TUC Head Office and ended at the Ministry of Education, where the teachers presented their petition.
Clad in red, they held placards with messages such as “Release our pension money now,” “Implement teachers in rural areas allowance now,” “Controller and Accountant General, release our money now,” “Fix salary disparities now,” and “Amend Article 71 — we all deserve better salaries.”
The demonstrators were drawn from the Eastern, Volta, Central and Western regions, with additional support from their colleagues in Greater Accra.
Earlier meeting
The demonstration proceeded despite an earlier meeting yesterday with the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, officials from the Ghana Education Service (GES), and the GNAT leadership to discuss the issues.
Following the meeting, the GNAT leadership urged members to refrain from the protest, assuring them that their concerns were being addressed.
However, the information arrived late as many members had already made arrangements and financial commitments for the protest.
Demands
The GNAT Regional Secretary, Peter Boateng, acknowledged the government’s efforts in improving education, citing the recent 100 per cent increase in Continuous Professional Development funding.
However, he emphasised that the association would continue to press for solutions to issues that required immediate attention.
He said over 5,000 teachers were currently suffering from salary disparities.
Additionally, teachers in rural areas, whose populations outnumber those in the urban centres, were struggling due to the lack of basic amenities.
Mr Boateng said as a result of those inconveniences, the association had requested that a certain percentage of teachers' salaries be allocated as compensation to those working in deprived areas but that request had not yet been addressed.
“There is also a significant issue with our colleagues who are due for promotion but have not been upgraded.
“These, among many other concerns, have led us to organise this demonstration. However, the minister has assured us that he will do everything possible to resolve our problems,” Mr Boateng stated.
