Members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in the Adenta municipality have threatened not to resume work when school reopens until culprits of a recent attack on a colleague at Bethel Presby Junior High School are arrested.
The incident is said to have happened on Wednesday, April 8.
In a letter of notice to the District Director of Education, GNAT Madina-Adenta-Abokobi Secretariat noted that on the said date, a former student identified as Aaron Mensah was found in a classroom during a mock examination picking bags belonging to pupils.
“He was confronted by a teacher, Mr. Mohammed Abdela, who was invigilating the examination,” GNAT explained in the letter.
“The individual refused to leave the school premises when instructed, claiming he was waiting for a friend. After persistent demands, he eventually left but issued a threat that he would return. True to his threat, the former student later returned with a group of young men on motorbikes and assaulted Mr. Abdela. The timely intervention of another teacher prevented serious harm, and Mr. Abdela was escorted to the East Legon Police Station where he lodged an official complaint. A police medical form was issued, and a medical report was subsequently submitted to the Police CID for investigation.”
The GNAT branch said despite all leading intelligence provided the police by not only the victim but also concerned citizens, no arrests have been made.
“GNAT views the apparent delay and inaction by the police as a serious threat to the safety and security of teachers in the municipality. The association emphasizes that if this trend of assault is not addressed decisively, teachers’ safety within their workplaces will be severely compromised.”
The Association, therefore, called on authorities “to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators”.
“The association further serves notice that teachers within the Adenta Municipality will not resume duty when schools reopen for the new term until the culprits are arrested and arraigned before court, as GNAT will not compromise on the safety of its members.”