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GNAT Executives hold bilateral discussions with NTC management
The 246,000 teachers across the country are expected to see an improvement in their working conditions and general wellbeing as projected by the new executives of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT).
The executives, among other things, intend to improve stakeholder engagement, good corporate governance, professional development and enhanced remuneration for teachers.
The acquistion of the Sweden Ghana Medical Centre by the association is also expected to be ease the financial burden associated with treatment of cancer and cancer related illnesses by members.
Reverend Isaac Owusu, the GNAT National President, made these remarks when the association paid a courtsey call on the Management of New Times Corporation (NTC) in Accra on Tuesday.
The visit was to officially introduce the newly elected national executives to the management of NTC and discuss possible areas of collaboration between the two entities.
The five newly elected national executives of GNAT who would serve a four-year term are: Reverend Isaac Owusu, National President, Mrs Lucy Amanda Asamoa, Vice President; Mr Ransford K.N Lolih, Treasurer; Mr John Owusu Mensah, 1st Trustee and Ms Mercy Nabia Sagbil as the 2nd Trustee.
Mr Daniel Affadu and Mr Kwame Dagbandow, Deputy Secretaries; and Mr Nicholas Taylor, Head of Administration and Organisation and other members of the association accompanied them.
Reverend Isaac Owusu gave the assurance that the new executives would build on the good works of its predecessors.
“The newly elected officers have a huge task but we would work in the interest of members to make GNAT continue to stay relevant”, he said.
Mrs Lucy Amanda Asamoa, said that the association had made some remarkable strides in the past 90 years and urged members to honour their monthly obligations to the Teachers’ Fund.
The Managing Director of New Times Corporation, Mr. Martin Adu-Owusu congratulated the new officers and assured them of the NTC’s unflinching support for the association.
“Gone were the days when the saying was that the teachers’ rewards were in heaven, the status quo does not hold today, I am urging you to work hard to ensure that welfare and wellbeing of teachers are enhanced,” he said.
Mr David Agbenu, Editor of the Ghanaian Times, urged GNAT to address any challenges that may disrupt academic work in future.
Mr Emmanuel Amponsah, Editor of The Spectator advised the executives to work assiduously for the interest of all its members and jealously guard the image of the association.
By Portia Hutton-Mills & Richael Ammah
Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie, the Member of Parliament for the Odododiodioo Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has assured the Accra Street Academy of his support in achieving its mission of uplifting vulnerable children within the community to break the cycle of poverty. “Without the needed support, your efforts may go round in circles due to the enormity of the task. This should not be left on the shoulders of the Academy alone. You need support from both government and the private sector. With that, the Academy would be in a good position to shape the future of these children on the streets,” he said.
The Accra Street Academy, originally formed in 1985 as a boxing arena, now serves as a school for deprived children, with most of its population numbering hundreds of pupils being neglected children from the streets of Jamestown and its environs. Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie made these remarks at the annual stakeholders’ meeting and fundraising event held over the weekend under the theme “Empowering Street Children: Health and Wellness.” The event is one of the Academy’s annual programmes, organized to raise funds and other forms of support to aid the school in catering to the needs of the children and holding its Christmas get-together.
According to the MP, it is worth noting that these children are taught and provided with two meals and a snack daily through the support of benevolent members of society. In view of this, he promised to facilitate the acquisition of documents needed for the construction of an Astroturf within the school’s premises. He noted that “every child has the right to play, and therefore I pledged to do my best to secure the needed documents” for the project to commence.
The legislator disclosed that over the years, the academic programmes of the Accra Street Academy have transformed children surviving on the streets into successful adults. He therefore urged other members of society to partner with the school to “help pupils rise higher for a better Ghana.” In the 2025/26 academic year, 22 pupils were absorbed by the Accra Metro Education Directorate as they transitioned into various Junior High Schools, while still returning to the Accra Street Academy for academic support.
Ms. Yvonne Abba-Opoku, a chartered governance advisor and senior executive in the nonprofit and charity sector, stated that the best gift to give a child was education.
By Spectator Reporter
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Mrs Regina Kudom, Senior Midwifery Officer at the New Atuabo Health Centre in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, has urged expectant mothers to attend antenatal clinic regularly for safe delivery.
She revealed that “in Tarkwa and its environs many pregnant women prefer staying at prayer camps, we are not against that, you can be there, but when your time is up for your antenatal session make sure you attend.”
Mrs Kudom gave the advice when the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) observed the World Prematurity Day with pregnant women at New Atuabo, Huniso and Awudua health centres.
World Prematurity Day falls on November 17, every year, and it is celebrated to raise awareness about the challenges faced by pre-term babies and their families.
She said research suggested that sex during pregnancy could soften the cervix and potentially aid in labour preparation.
“That is the reason why we encourage pregnant women to have sex with their partners, if they do not have any health implications,” she added.
Mrs Kudom appealed to the GFGF to upgrade the New Atuabo health centre as the current structure was too small because they received many patients daily.
Madam Ayishetu Mohammed, Project Coordinator for GFGF, explained that they received donations from Project C. U. R. E and the items were given to health facilities in their operational area.
She stated that they noticed there were baby dresses, sanitary pads, and baby apparel, so they decided to distribute them among expectant mothers in three of their host communities.
Madam Mohammed said because the foundation was interested in preventive care, they brought a midwife from the Tarkwa Mine hospital to educate the pregnant women.
She extolled the midwives in New Atuabo health centre for the education they gave to the pregnant women and implored them to heed to the advice given during antenatal visits to reduce maternal deaths in the Tarkwa Nsuaem and Prestea Huni-Valley Municipalities.
Mr Paa Kwasi Egan, Deputy Chief Physician Assistance, emphasised that a pregnant woman being anemic meant she was not eating a balance diet, and added that, “Some of these women do not have money to buy food or visit antenatal clinics.”
He said when men follow their wives for antenatal visits, they would be educated extensively on why they should provide funds for their pregnant wives.
Mr Egan, therefore, encouraged all men to be involved in their pregnant wives’ antenatal care appointments so they could learn more about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. – GNA
