Some teachers working under the Ghana Education Service (GES) have resolved to boycott the Independence Day anniversary celebration.

Instead, the group, which calls itself Teachers’ Coalition for Good Governance (TCGG), has decided to hold a demonstration in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, while the Concerned Ghanaians also organizes its in Accra the same day.

In a statement issued yesterday under the hands of Madam Martha Kodua, Frank Amoako, Benard Barffour Gyawu, Frank Ntiamoah and Alex Nyamekye, they posited, “In solidarity with the pressure group Concerned Ghanaians, an umbrella group representing the interests of teachers – Teachers’ Coalition for Good Governance (TCGG) – will take to the streets of Kumasi and other cities and towns to demonstrate against the ongoing erratic power supply plaguing the country, the refusal of the government to reduce fuel prices, despite a drastic drop in prices worldwide.”

It continued, “Due to the perpetual state of crisis that this government has plunged the nation into, it does not deserve the salute of any student or teacher on 6th March.” The statement called on all teachers and students across the length and breadth of the country to join the TCGG together with the Concerned Ghanaians to register their utmost dissatisfaction against the status quo.

“TCGG shall also demonstrate in protest of the victimization and unfair treatment being given to teachers in the Ashanti Region who are perceived to be averse to government. In parallel with our Concerned Ghanaians allies, we intend to demonstrate on Independence Day, 6th March”, the statement indicated.

As educators the teachers said, “We strongly feel it is our civic and moral duty to draw to the attention of our current leaders that this ‘dumsor’ crisis is sabotaging our educational institutions – from kindergarten to the university.” One does not need to be told that the country is living in the dark ages, both literally and metaphorically.”

They wondered why in this 21st century, Ghana could not produce the electricity required to meet its needs, describing it as ridiculous.

For them, “It is a sad fact that in the 50 plus years since its completion, our power generating capacity has barely been upgraded. Yet we hark back to this achievement because successive governments have done virtually nothing to upgrade our power capacity since then.”

According to the teachers, the lack of electricity had made teachers unable to adequately prepare lesson notes for classes as they claim to be relying on candlelight, torches, paraffin lights and other primitive forms of electrical power. “In this day and age, it is an absolute disgrace that students have to learn by candle light, or worse, by moonlight, in order to study in the evening. Students are failing to complete assignments due to inadequate light. In their homes, halls and dormitories, students are unable to conduct any meaningful research or serious study,” the statement bemoaned.

In cases where assignments have been completed, it said, “This has only been due to itinerant students moving to neighbourhoods that may be lucky enough to have electrical power on a particular occasion.”

Aside that, they indicated that the lack of lighting and power had frequently forced closures of secondary and tertiary institutions – not to mention libraries, laboratories and other resource centres – whiles the security of students has also been compromised, as recent reported occurrences of burglaries and attempted rapes would attest to. “What government, worth its name, can allow this to happen under its watch?”

“It is becoming increasingly evident that we do not have a serious government. As a nation, we are not progressing and our future looks bleak, the worried teachers said.

They rhetorically queried, “What will our history teachers be teaching our grandchildren 100 years after independence? A history of progress, or of failure and hardship?”

They also accused government of replacing experienced teachers with unqualified ones in the Ashanti Region, who happen to be government sympathisers.