GNAT Ajumako holds 52nd Delegates Conference

AJUMAKO-Enyan-Essiam District branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has held its Fifth Quadrennial and 52^nd District Delegates Conference over the weekend at Ajumako in the Central Region.

The conference which was held at the Teacher’s Credit Union Hall inside the plush GNAT local building was on the theme “Transforming Societies through Education: The Teacher factor in ensuring equitable quality education for agenda 2030”.

Addressing the gathering the then Acting District Chairman who has now been elected the substantive chairman of the association, Mr Bright Abekah-Mensah revealed that the role of teachers in ensuring impartial or reasonable quality of education as the nation implements that Sustainable Development Goals cannot be downplayed.

According to him the association will continue to roll out programmes and activities that will enhance the capabilities of members as it is enshrined in the GNAT Constitution, taking cognizance of the four thematic areas which includes: membership education, youth desk, professional development and labour/ welfare issues.

“Carrying out these roles with eagerness, alacrity and promptness to serve our members well make the association a very hard nut to crack in the era of rise of other teacher unions from the association” he added.

Mr Abekah-Mensah further explained that out of 1,567 teacher population in the district, GNAT has about 1299 as its members which he noted was very overwhelming achievement. Saying we are not in any unhealthy competition with other teacher unions in the district, but we have always maintained and made it clear to teachers GNAT stands tall among all the other teacher unions when it comes to serving the best interest of the teacher.

The GNAT District Chairman lamented that the needs of today’s teacher go beyond the usual lip-service that are given to teachers. What the modern-day teacher need is access to good health and serene accommodation.

He therefore, urged his lieutenant to think about the idea of GNAT having its own hospital like the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) where its members will go and receive quality health or a well packaged home ownership scheme to replace the defunct GHOS.

In her part the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District Director of Education Ms Macaiver Ivy Quaye said her outfit was working around the clock to address the issue of dilapidated buildings in the district which usual house the Kindergarten pupils.

“We are taking the issue seriously due to the unfortunate incident that occurred at the Breman Jamira in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District where six pupils died when their school building collapsed on them” she recalled.

Ms Ivy Quaye therefore, appealed to parents to supporter teachers by providing their wards the needed tools to enhance quality teaching and learning.