The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has, for a very long time been engaged in promoting and improving education in the country. Established in 1962, on the heels of the Assisted Schools Teachers’ Union (ASTU), the first all teachers’ organization financed and controlled by teachers, the GNAT has served as the loudest voice of teachers in Ghana over the years, chalking several successes in the promotion of education as a whole. (In fact, it has been recognized in the 1992 Constitution under Article 166 (1) as one of the fifteen members of the NMC). This places a very high responsibility on the association to justify its recognition as the major voice of teachers in the country.
An important expectation of any employer is to have its employees on top of their jobs, delivering quality services or products with little or no supervision. Organizations thus take the professional development of their employees very seriously hence make provision in their budget to build the capacities of their staff. Teachers in Ghana have enjoyed Study Leave (with or without pay) since time immemorial. The GNAT remains a crucial stakeholder, actively involved in ensuring the continuity of the Study Leave Policy (especially Paid Study Leave, which is now on quota basis), to enable teachers pursue various courses at the University to enrich their knowledge and pedagogical skills.
Similarly, the GNAT also contributes (single-handedly or in collaboration with other partners like the Canadian Teachers Federation) to the professional development of teachers through seminars and workshops.
The GNAT also championed the institution of an annual award scheme known as the “Best Teacher Awards” in 1995 to motivate teachers to give off their best to improving education delivery in the country. Under the awards, outstanding teachers (and recently, schools) in various categories are identified and honoured.
The GNAT also concerns itself with addressing the economic challenges facing teachers while in active service as well as in retirement. As a result of this, it established the Teachers Fund in 1998 to serve as a pension supplement scheme for members. Over the years, Teachers Fund has modified its operations to take care of pressing needs of members while in active service through the advancement of personal loans to teachers to enable them honour financial commitments such the payment of their wards school fees and rent. They also advance loans to members to build houses or purchase means of transport, among others.
Another achievement worthy of mention is the establishment, in 2011, of a Youth Policy to cater for the needs of youthful teachers of the association who make up over 70% of the entire membership of about 160,000 teachers. The GNAT Youth Policy comes on the heels of the National Youth Policy of Ghana whose mandate is “towards an empowered youth, impacting positively on national development.”
Allegations of Corruption and the Way Forward.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) was in the news recently for the wrong reasons. A former Deputy General Secretary in Charge of Labour Relations of the Association (Mr Awotwe Nkansah) has levelled serious allegations of fraud and corruption against some past officers as well as some current officers of the association. This raises critical concerns for all members of the association and advocates of workers’ rights in the country.
This is not the first time allegations of corruption and or financial malfeasance has been levelled against any officer of the association; some other officials of the association have in the past been accused of one form of corruption or the other leading to apathy and suspicion of the rank and file against leaders of the association.
An urgent and proper resolution of the current feud between Mr Awotwe Nkansah and the association will therefore go a long way to assuage the apprehensions of many members of the association and other stakeholders. If any of the offences is established to have occurred, anyone found culpable must be dealt with according to the provisions of the law.
If on the other hand, no adverse findings are made against the accused persons, and it is established that Mr Awotwe’s allegations were borne out of malice, quick steps must be taken to disabuse the minds of the rank and file of the association and to build trust among them for leadership moving forward. But most importantly, operations of the association need to be streamlined to forestall any future embarrassment. The communication system of the association must also be improved to enhance interaction between management and the general membership.