Teachers booze to death

About 90 per cent of 228 teachers in basic and second cycle institutions who died in the Central Region last year suffered from alcohol-related ailments. The other 10 per cent died of diseases, which were not alcohol-related.

According to the Assin District Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr Isaac Mensah, the highest number of such deaths was recorded in the Assin and Twifo-Heman-Lower Denkyira district. The Assin District recorded 16 per cent of such deaths.

Mr Mensah was speaking at an education forum organised by the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) at Assin Fosu. The forum was to solicit ideas on how to improve educational standards in the district and the region as a whole.

Mr Mensah said studies have revealed that most teachers take to alcohol due to frustration they have to go through to survive as a result of delays in the payment of their salaries after their postings. According to him, some of the teachers get addicted to alcohol and eventually die from excessive drinking. He said the situation has contributed to the deteriorating standards of education in the area and called for the prompt payment of teachers' salaries.

Mr Mensah said the Assin District office of the GNAT is seeking the services of a psychiatrist to counsel the teacher, on how to cope with stressful situations and frustrations, particularly in the rural communities. He called on the district assemblies to help ensure that decent accommodation is provided for teacher who are posted to the rural areas.