The Upper West Regional branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called on the government to open negotiations for the payment of category two and three allowances for teachers, before Elections 2012 .

This, according to the group should be in fulfillment of an agreement between the government on one hand and GNAT on the other, regarding teachers’ conditions of service.

Mr. Sebastian Sorinye, Regional Chairman of the Association, who made the call at this year’s World Teachers’ Day celebration in Wa, also lamented the deletion of the names of 25,000 teachers from government pay roll in August.

He called for the restoration of those names on the pay roll without delay, and the payment of the August salaries, to prevent any unpleasant reaction.

“Let us stop paying lip service to the teacher and do something better now to motivate the teacher and bring about quality in teaching and learning, which will lead to quality education in our dear nation”, Mr. Sorinye said.

Teachers in the region marked the day with inter-district football matches, quiz competitions, distribution of 31 notice boards and files to second cycle schools and the Regional Education Office and the opening of a new canteen at the Regional GNAT secretariat.

Alhaji Duogu Yakubu, Wa Municipal Chief Executive, who represented Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister, called on stakeholders to find solutions to difficult socio-economic conditions under which teachers work.

Alhaji Yakubu said that government was doing everything possible to address those problems, to improve education.

He asked teachers not engage in acts that could tarnish the image of their profession.