The Ghana National Association of Teachers, (GNAT), has called on the former rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, to apologise to its members for describing them as “pure criminals.”

Prof Adei told, on Thursday, 24 January 2019, told Benjamin Akakpo on the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Class91.3FM that Ghanaian teachers in public basic schools are “pure criminals” because "they do not teach” yet take their salaries and send their children to private schools.

In his view, that attitude of the teachers was affecting the quality of education at the primary level.

In an interview on Ahomka FM, the Central Regional Chairman of GNAT, Dr Isaac Owusu, described Prof Adei's comment as unfortunate and demanded an apology.

He said: "I’ve also heard what our senior comrade, Prof Stephen Adei has said about the teachers in this country, and, in fact, this is not the first time he's spoken. He's our elder and a very respectable man, so, we sometimes don't want to be treating him like we do to others...

“It is, indeed, an insult. Yes, indeed, like in every institution or profession, you may find one or two teachers among us who may be doing what is not expected, but that doesn't mean you should generalise it that all teachers are criminals.

“It is very unfortunate, so, we, the GNAT members in the region, are calling on him to apologise to all teachers before he incurs our wrath".