Teachers' group calls on leadership of GNAT to render accounts

Asokore (Ash), Dec. 23, GNA - The "Forum for Teachers Rights" (FTR), a pressure group of teachers at Asokore in the Sekyere East District of Ashanti, has called on the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to, as a matter of urgency, render accounts on the monthly contributions of members to enable them to know the financial position of the association.

which are hired to the public to enable members to be abreast with the growth and viability of such projects.

These were contained in a statement signed by Mr Kwame Opoku Agyeman, Public Relations Officer of the group and issued at Asokore on Tuesday.

According to the statement, members of the group had resolved to take legal action and break away from GNAT if their demand for proper accountability was not immediately met.

It said the group was aware of the massive corruption and embezzlement going on at the various regional and district secretariats of the association and cited the reported missing of 80 million cedis at the Kumasi secretariat in 2003.

The statement said proceeds from the numerous GNAT hostels and halls are not known to members, while the Teachers Mutual Fund, which was established to bring relief to teachers had rather, brought untold suffering to them.

It described GNAT as the "number one enemy to the progress and advancement of teachers" and said "GNAT is the cause of 90 percent of teachers' woes in the country".

The statement urged GNAT to make known the total number of its staff as well as their salaries and allowances and also decentralise its activities to ensure transparency.

It dispelled the notion that the group was being sponsored by some political parties. "We have not and shall not align ourselves with any political party. We blame our predicaments on the part of all politicians, past and present and GNAT in particular".

The statement re-emphasised the resolve of the group to embark on a nationwide strike by the end of June 2004, if teachers under the SSNIT pension scheme were not restored to "Cap 30" pension scheme. 23 Dec. 03