Fear, anger, and growing outrage are sweeping through the education sector in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality as teachers threaten to embark on an indefinite strike over what they describe as the brutal assault of educators by armed military personnel and the “cold silence” of authorities.
At a charged press conference in Tarkwa on Monday, May 25, the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) declared that their patience has run out.
According to the unions, the disturbing incident occurred earlier this month at Adiewoso M/A Basic School, where three teachers, together with the husband of a female teacher, were allegedly attacked by armed military men under circumstances that have left many in shock.
The unions say the victims are still nursing physical injuries and emotional trauma, while teachers across the municipality now feel unsafe and abandoned.
But the anger of the unions is not directed at the military alone. The teachers have also launched a blistering attack on the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service, Madam Catherine Andoh-Mensah, accusing her of failing to show leadership and compassion in the aftermath of the assault.
According to the unions, although the Director visited the school on the very day the incident happened, she allegedly failed to advise the affected teachers to seek medical attention or file an official police complaint.
Instead, union leaders claim that five days later, the Director phoned the teachers and chastised them for absenting themselves from school, recorded their absence in the school’s logbook, and reportedly expressed displeasure that the female teacher was not at post while attending to her injured husband.
The unions say the conduct of the Director has deepened the pain and frustration of teachers in the municipality. They had earlier given authorities up to Monday, May 25, to act on their concerns and ensure the perpetrators are dealt with. But with no official response forthcoming, the unions have announced the first phase of their industrial action.
“Effective Tuesday, May 26, all teachers in Tarkwa Nsuaem should wear red bands to school and also embark on a sit-down strike. This will continue up to May 31, 2026. Teachers will, from Monday, June 1, 2026, embark on a total strike if the issues raised are not addressed,” Perpetual Bosomprah, GNAT District Chair for Tarkwa, detailed.
The unfolding crisis is already sparking anxiety among parents and students, as many fear the standoff could escalate into one of the biggest education shutdowns the municipality has witnessed in recent years.
By: Nana Esi Brew Monney- Tarkwa
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