Chief urges Parliament to intervene in NAGRAT, GES impasse

Yamoransa (C/R), Oct. 19, GNA - Okesse Essandoh VIII, Paramount Chief of the Nkusukum Traditional Area in the Central Region, has appealed to Parliament to intervene in the impasses between the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the government over improved condition of service.

At an emergency meeting at his palace at Yamoransa on Tuesday, the paramount chief said the impasse was degenerating into a national crisis, especially with the support of some member of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in the strike action. =93Parents are getting worried and restless=94 the chief stated and added that an early intervention by the legislature could turn the tide. Okesse Essandoh noted that the capitation grant and the school feeding programme introduced by the government to entice children to go to school would not achieve the purpose if children were thrown out of school by strike action. Nana Takyi VII, Nkyidomhene of the traditional area said since the West African Secondary Schools Certificate Examination was meant for all English speaking countries in the sub-region, every effort should be made to get the teachers back to the classroom to prepare the children well for the examinations. Nana Ataapim Kweenu VIII, Mankrado of the area said the future of our leaders was at the cross-road and appealed to the striking teachers to temper 93justice with mercy=94. He appealed to the government to speed up the negotiation process for improved condition of service being demanded by the striking teachers. 19 Oct. 06