Re: Violence on teachers in Tepa – Setting the records
Ghanaeducation.org published an opinion a story titled “Violence on teachers in Tepa – GES must end this now! It related to the welfare of teachers in Tepa in the Ahafo-Ano district.
Crosschecking the facts with interested parties, it is clear that the story shared in the said publication was not entirely true.
We have pulled down the original story and wish to offer an UNQUALIFIED APOLOGY to all who might have been negatively impacted by the content.
Based on additional information available to us, we share some facts on the said story.
1. Information reaching us shows that the municipal director is not in any way imposing the welfare on the teachers, but rather is encouraging teachers to consider their future and built robust welfare through collective participation of all teachers in the district.
The earlier publication indicated that welfare was being imposed on teachers. This is very untrue. The municipal director is nine months old in the municipality however the welfare has been in existence for over 15 years.
2. There was no physical or verbal assault on teachers by the municipal director at the last annual general meeting of the welfare which took place on 13th April 2021 at Tepa Roman Catholic church.
The facts available to us show that the director had goodwill, and positive intent but was misunderstood. The director only responded to a question as to whether it was compulsory to be part of the welfare.
The director only responded that because the welfare of the teachers is in his hand as a municipal director, it was necessary for teachers in the municipal to be part of the welfare. Per the information available now, there was no assault on any teacher either physically or verbally.
3. Facts from the original “Violence on teachers in Tepa – GES must end this now!” furthered that there was some embezzlement of teachers’ funds. The earlier publication indicated it was GHS20,000. The facts available indicate this is correct.
The amount was GHC 24, 404.04. This occurred three years ago, and the welfare has taken steps to recover the amount. As of now a total of GHC 7, 500.00 has been retrieved and payment is still ongoing to retrieve the remaining balance.
The facts show that embezzlement took place three years before the current director was posted to the municipal and so he and the current executives have no hand in the unfortunate outcome.
4. We are reliably informed that the current director is the very person who is doing his best to strengthen the welfare and pluck all loopholes that may impact the welfare negatively. This is expected to allay the fears of others.
Ghanaeducation.org is reliably informed that for the past several years, the welfare executives were operating without an office however, the current municipal director of education has allocated to the teachers’ welfare and its executives one room to be used as welfare office at the directorate. This has improved the activities and administration of the teachers’ welfare.
The teachers welfare is currently manned by six duly elected executives who manage the welfare funds. They were elected by the teachers (members) at the last AGM on 13th April 2021.
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Source: Ghanaeducation.org