Regional News of Tuesday, 22 June 2004

Source: GNA

Nadowli teachers demonstrate

Nadowli, June 22, GNA - Teachers in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region on Tuesday warned that school children and the education sector would suffer if the government refuse to meet their demand for the restoration of the CAP 30 pension scheme for them.

"Gone are the days when teachers could sacrifice their time, pleasures and lives for the betterment of education of education and die miserably as pampers," they said in a petition to the President after a one-hour demonstration at Nadowli organised by the Ghana National Association of Teachers.

Scores of school children in the town took part in the demonstration in solidarity with their teachers.

Some of the placards they carried read, "All vampires stay out of SSNIT contribution," "SSNIT shortens our lives," "SSNIT pension scheme gives BP" and "NO CAP 30 No NPP".

The petition said effective and efficient service to promote quality education could not be assured if their demands were not met.

"We are of the mission of the Ghana Education Service, but we assure you that we shall without mercy abandon our dear pupils if we are not assured of a brighter future," the teachers threatened.

They described the SSNIT Pension Scheme as a "formula to rob, frustrate, embarrass, dehumanise and eventually hasten the death of beneficiaries".

Mrs. Pauline Ninkpeng, Nadowli District Chief Executive, who received the petition, commended them for the peaceful and orderly manner they went about the demonstration. She said as mature professionals, they should continue to work hard and to wait patiently for the government's to response to the concerns raised in the petition.