Accra, Jan, 13, GNA - Mr Joseph Kweku Adjei was on Friday elected the President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) at the Second Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Association in Accra.

Ms Portia Wolly Anafo took the position of Vice President while Ms Leticia Hammond was elected National Treasurer. The rest were Mr Anthony Kwame Appiah, First National Trustee and Ms Paulina Nyankah, Second National Trustee.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Adjei said the success of the Association had come about because they adhered to the principles of democracy such as the freedom of speech, tolerance, unity of purpose and respect for each other.

He said his predecessors were able to achieve much because of their "unity of purpose to fight against exploitation from our employers" adding that GNAT had won it case all these years through the support it had from the various groups within it.

"It is in this direction that I still urge you to bind ourselves together as a united front that can overwhelm negative forces that are poised to impede our advance towards peace, stability and prosperity," he said.

He commended the immediate past leaders for the role they played to keep GNAT firmly on it toes and promised to continue to maintain the goodwill and the credibility of GNAT.

Ms Anafo, former Acting President, called on the Government to fast-track salary negotiations to give hope to teachers. She said the Association was waiting for the implementation of the teacher's car loan and the housing scheme promised by the Government.

She urged the Executives to increase their educational drive on the provisions of the Labour Law, Act 651. Ms Anafo called on the media to be more teacher-friendly and to project the teacher's image and the sacrifices they made.