Offinso teachers embark on demonstration for CAP 30

Offinso (Ash), July 6, GNA- Members of the Offinso branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful demonstration to press home their demand for the restoration of the Colonial Administration Pension (CAP) 30 scheme.

The members marched through the principal streets of Offinso amidst brass band music and chanting of war songs.

They carried placards, some of which read: "HIV/AIDS is better than SSNIT pension", "SSNIT pension kills faster than HIV/AIDS", "Mr President, SSNIT pension is a killer", "Teachers deserve better" and "Please don't discriminate against teachers".

The teachers later converged at the offices of the district assembly where they presented a petition to the District Chief Executive, Mr Joseph Yaw Oduro.

They also presented a copy of the petition to the District Director of Education, Mrs Christiana Agyenim-Boateng.

Mr Owusu Achiaw, Offinso district GNAT chairman, who read the petition on behalf of the teachers, said teachers in the district found the SSNIT pension scheme unacceptable.

He said the teachers felt that there should be equal pension scheme for all government workers, adding that, the fact that teachers were not on CAP 30 made them second-class citizens and that could not be allowed to continue.

Mr Oduro thanked the teachers for the petition and pledged to send it to the appropriate quarters.

Mrs Agyenim-Boateng on her part, thanked the teachers for comporting themselves during the demonstration.

She said the government had taken their concern very serious and had established a high-powered committee to look into the issue and come out with an acceptable solution to both parties. Mrs Agyenim-Boateng advised the teachers to exercise restraint while the government continued to find solution to the problem.