Teachers take part in peaceful demonstration for CAP 30 restoration

Hohoe, (V/R) June 9, GNA - Teachers, Judicial Service staff and members of the Ghana Registered Nurses' Associations on Wednesday undertook a four-hour peaceful demonstration through the principal streets of Hohoe to press home their demand for the restoration of CAP 30. The group, which later converged at the forecourt of the Hohoe District Assembly amidst chanting of war songs, presented a petition to government through the District Chief Executive (DCE).

Mr Sylvanus E. Woname, chairman of the Hohoe branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) who read the petition, appealed to government to reconsider seriously, this demand so as to forestall any unpredictable action by teachers.

He said: " in as much as we appreciate the fact that this current government inherited some of these shortcomings, it is our belief that it has all the power to reserve us to CAP 30", he said. "We are aware that certain segments of Ghanaian workers, including the security agencies have been placed on CAP 30 Pension Ordinance for reasons we could not explain", he intimated.

Mr Woname said the teacher was poorly remunerated despite the daunting tasks they performed adding, "what was good for goose was also good for the gander".

He observed that the pension disparity between CAP 30 and SSNIT was enormous stating that while an Assistant Director under CAP 30 took over 90 million cedis as pension, a District Director of Education under SSNIT take a only 10.5 million cedis.

Mr. Michael Senu, member of the Hohoe District Assembly, who received the petition on behalf of DCE Mr James Dogbe assured the teachers that the petition would be forwarded to the appropriate quarters for action.

He commended them for the peaceful nature of the demonstration and urged them to continue maintain the peace. The red-cladded demonstrators hoisted placard some of which read "government do something now", "respect teachers, they also need CAP 30", "SSNIT gives stroke, CAP 30 our only partner for life".