...teachers to support colleague in court
Tema, May 09, GNA - Schools in Tema closed down on Tuesday to allow teachers to support a colleague in court for allegedly damaging the right eye of a student during caning.

Alice William, a Social Studies teacher of Sakumono Complex School pleaded not guilty to causing harm to Miss Georgina Archer, a 12-year-old Junior Secondary School (JSS) student.

She was granted 100 million cedis bail by Tema Circuit Court "A" to re-appear on June 8.

The court premises was full of teachers wearing red bands around their hands and neck in solidarity with their pregnant colleague. A team of police personnel were brought in to control the teachers who sang solidarity songs when the Tema District Director of Education was leaving the court premises after the adjournment.

When the case was called, the Presiding Judge Mr Charles Asiedu said he could not hear it because of the presence of the teaming teachers who were in red bands and could disturb court proceedings and adjourned the case.

Earlier, Mr Jonathan Amponsah Wutoh, Defence Counsel, pleaded with the court for a longer date to allow for settlement but it was declined by the Judge who said they must work within the confines of the law and therefore, needed an earlier date then requested.

However, in adjourning the case to June 8, Mr Asiedu said "in view of the situation and the fact that the teachers are in red bands it could disorganize proceedings."

Meanwhile, a medical report indicated that Georgina had successfully undergone a "Cataract Surgery with I.O. L. Implantation and is still on treatment."

Police Chief Inspector Matilda Tetteh, prosecuting told the court that on February 22 this year, some students in Georgina's class fought which attracted the attention of the accused who controlled the class and asked the students to keep quiet.

She said later, when Georgina was narrating the incident to other students who were not present, the accused realised that she was making noise and caned her and in the process the cane hit her left eye.

Police Chief Inspector Tetteh said Georgina complained that the accused had hurt her in the left eye that made the accused to stop and the students drew her attention that Georgina was badly hurt.

She said Georgina was taken to the school's infirmary for first aid and later to a hospital at Sakumono Estates where she was referred to the 37 Military Hospital where surgery was performed on the damaged eye. After the adjournment, the teachers converged at the Teachers Resource Centre and pledged their continued solidarity with their colleague and agreed that they would contribute towards any fine that would be imposed on her. 09 May 06