GNAT orders teachers to leave Garu

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has directed all teachers in the Garu District of the Upper East Region to withdraw from classrooms and flee for their safety following the fatal shooting of a headteacher and three others on Monday, October 20, 2025.

The deceased, identified as Yahaya Bukari, who also served as GNAT’s District Treasurer, reportedly died protecting his pupils during the attack.

According to a report by adomonline.com on October 21, 2025, GNAT National President Rev Isaac Owusu described the incident as ‘heart-wrenching’ and condemned the persistent violence in parts of the Upper East Region.

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“When we heard the news about the shooting, we were really shaken. We don’t know why our brothers and sisters in Garu, Bunkpurugu, and Bawku cannot prioritise peace. And sadly, we don’t see what the government is doing to ensure lasting peace,” Rev Owusu lamented.

Citing the Labour Act, he emphasised that employers are legally obligated to ensure workers’ safety.

“Section 118 mandates the employer to ensure the safety of employees. If the environment is unsafe, section 119 gives the employee the right to vacate for their own safety,” he explained.

Rev Owusu said GNAT cannot guarantee the safety of any teacher in the district and therefore urged all educators to leave immediately.

“The withdrawal is not just from the Garu D/A School but across all schools in the district. We are asking our teachers to flee for their lives,” he stated.

He added that Bukari, who oversaw more than 1,000 GNAT members, left behind a wife and three children.

“He sacrificed his life for the children. But for his intervention, many more pupils might have died,” he said solemnly.

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Rev Owusu called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education to provide urgent support to the bereaved family and appealed to President John Mahama to ensure justice for the victims.

MRA/VPO

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