GNAT Declares Zero Tolerance for Attacks on Teachers, Warns of Possible School Closures
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has declared zero tolerance for any form of assault or brutalisation of teachers across the country, warning that continued attacks on its members could lead to the closure of schools nationwide.
The strong warning was issued at the 54th National Delegates Conference of GNAT held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), where the Association’s President, Reverend Isaac Owusu, underscored the urgent need for a safe and secure working environment for teachers.
According to Reverend Owusu, recent incidents of violence against teachers, perpetrated by individuals within communities and even students, pose a serious threat to the safety and morale of educators.
“There is an urgent need on the part of the employer to make the workplace of teachers safe and secure. Your Excellency, of late, teachers risk being attacked and assaulted by individuals or groups of persons, including students in the community,” he stated.
The GNAT President recalled the 2025 killing of Yahaya Bukari, a teacher at Garu Primary School in the Upper East Region, describing the incident as a painful reminder of the dangers teachers face in the line of duty.
“A recent example, Your Excellency, is the shooting incident that occurred in the Garu District of the Upper East Region. The late Yahaya Bukari was a teacher and a GNAT member who was a district treasurer of the good people of Garu District and was shot dead in the line of duty,” he said.
Reverend Owusu noted that the late teacher’s courageous actions helped save the lives of many schoolchildren who were on break at the time of the attack.
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“But for the intervention of this teacher, a lot of schoolchildren could have been killed. When these unknown men were shooting, the children were on break and playing outside. He rallied them into the classroom, and unfortunately, he lost his life. Yet, until today, we have not heard anything from the employer,” he lamented.
He further drew attention to the devastating impact of the incident on the teacher’s family, noting that Yahaya Bukari left behind a wife and four children.
In a show of solidarity, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) pledged its full support to GNAT in the event of any assault on teachers. The Secretary-General of TUC, Joshua Ansah, assured teachers of organised labour’s readiness to back any action taken to protect them.
“I want to assure each and every person in this room that the Trade Union Congress, and for that matter organised labour in this country, will support any action that will be taken by GNAT and teachers in this country when a teacher is assaulted,” he said.
He reiterated the commitment of organised labour, stressing that teachers’ welfare must be prioritised.
“I repeat, the Trade Union Congress of Ghana and workers of this country will support and solidarise with GNAT if any teacher is assaulted in this country. Seek ye the welfare of teachers first, and all other things shall be added unto you,” Mr. Ansah added.
GNAT has maintained that ensuring the safety of teachers is non-negotiable and has called on government and education authorities to act decisively to protect educators and restore confidence within the education system.
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