Members of  the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) in the Ahafo, Bono, and Bono East regions have registered their displeasure of non-payment of their maintenance allowance by the government since 2019, saying the situation has affected teaching and learning over the years.

Delegates at a regional delegates conference held in Sunyani recently expressed the sentiment during deliberations on matters affecting teachers’ welfare.

Addressing delegates, the Regional Chairman, Augustine Akidam, said some policies continue to negatively affect the welfare of teachers. These negative policies, he noted, included the 2021 four per cent base pay increment, non-payment of maintenance allowance since 2019 to date, and delay in the release of resources to head teachers to run the schools.

“Mr. Chairman, ladies, and gentlemen, teachers are not the cause of the economic woes of the nation and cannot be made to suffer unduly for that.  Conference will like to make it clear to managers of education and the government that the teachers are sick and tired of this inhuman treatment.  These injustices to us and the teaching profession will no more be taken,” he cautioned.

Regional Secretary, Sylvester Tabiasinaa, in his address, said problems facing the association included double and wrongful deductions from members’ salaries, and delay in repayment of wrongful deductions among others.

He informed members that the total membership of the association in the three regions now stands at 3,767.

The association was also able to acquire two plots of land at a cost of GH¢25,000 each to build regional offices of the association where it would operate in the coming years.

National Vice President of NAGRAT, Jacob Anaba, who graced the occasion, advised members to avail themselves to information communication technology since it has become the driver of industries in today’s day and age.

All five executives including the regional chairman, vice chairman, regional secretary, treasurer, public relations officer were all retained in a popular acclamation to run the affairs of the association for the next four years since they contested unopposed.