Members of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana (CCT) have staged a joint demonstration in the Ashanti Region capital of Kumasi.
The two teacher unions are protesting poor conditions of service especially non-payment of the incremental allowance under the Single Spine Pay Policy.
Leadership of both NAGRAT and CCT led Tuesday’s procession, which began at the Kumasi Children’s Park.
Among placards brandished by the protesters read: “Remit our pension contributions to GES trustees,” “Pay Teachers, Salary Arrears,” “Teachers Abr3” and “Pay Promotion Arrears”.
The two bodies are expected to present a joint-petition to the Ashanti Region Minister, Samuel Sarpong, at the Regional Coordinating Council.
Already NAGRAT members in the Greater Accra and Brong Ahafo regions have laid down their tools.
Meanwhile, the National President of NAGRAT, Christian Addai-Poku, has lashed out at leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), saying GNAT’s posture suggests teachers in the country have no grievances.
Reacting to a press conference held by GNAT on Monday, Mr Addai-Poku told TV3’s Bright Nana Amfoh on News@10 that GNAT has since 2005 played second fiddle to NAGRAT and CCT but has projected itself as aggressively agitating for teachers.
He said after government met the teacher unions last week as a result of the strike threat issued by NAGRAT and CCT, GNAT quickly took advantage of the situation to distribute documents on discussions at meeting to teachers across the country.
Mr Addai-Poku said so far as teachers have challenges in the discharge of their duties, NAGRAT will continue to fight for their causes.
