Members of NAGRAT in Northern Region embark on strike action

Tamale, Sept.12, GNA 96 Members of the Northern Regional Branch of National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) on Wednesday joined their colleagues in other regions to embark on an indefinite strike action to compel government to address their grievances. At the sixth National Delegates Congress of NAGRAT in Tamale last month, the association demanded among other things that the Government should review salaries of all workers especially teachers, by September 1, 2006.

That there was the need for education authorities and other stakeholders to address outstanding grievances to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the removal of Mr Michael Kenneth Nsowah, Acting Director-General of Ghana Education Service (GES), who had reached the retiring age.

At a press conference to announce the strike action in Tamale on Wednesday, Mr Lordson Afedo, Northern Regional Branch Chairman of NAGRAT said the Regional Executive of the association had taken the decision because the national officers were "dragging their feet" over the resolution of problems facing teachers.

He explained that the rank and file of NAGRAT in the region was accusing their executives of insensitivity and considered the delay tactics of the national officers as "a stab in the back", hence the industrial action to back their demand for the speedy resolution of issues affecting Ghanaian teachers.

"This time round, we will not accept any MOU, no matter where it is coming from since the Government and our employers, GES, have displayed gross insensitivity to the resolution of issues that plague teachers in generally and NAGRAT in particular....," Mr Afedo said.

The Association called for amendment of the 1995 Education Act, (Act 506) to allow for free association within the GES.

It reiterated the call by the National Delegates' Congress that NAGRAT be given representation on all committees and panels of GES and GES Council that dealt with matters affecting graduate teachers. The Association demanded that the Controller and Accountant-General's Department should stop the use of the auto-code that effected deductions from the salaries of teachers, especially graduates, without their consent.

It said all newly recruited teachers must have a right of choice of association on their recruitment forms and that Government should offer free education to at least, two children of every teacher up to the university level.

Mr Afedo regretted that at a meeting held with the Minister of Education, Science and Sports on Wednesday August 29, 2006, it was evident that nothing was being done to address the grievances of NAGRAT. He said at the meeting the Minister categorically stated that he was not aware of any MOU signed between NAGRAT and the education authorities.

"NAGRAT Northern Region has decided to join other regions to embark on an indefinite industrial action till the grievances presented to education authorities in the country are resolved," Mr Afedo said.