Teachers ‘Beg’ GNAT for COVID-19 fight & lockdown support

The Coalition of Grassroot leadership of GNAT has issued a statement for and on behalf of teachers. It stated that. The current social and economic downturns are beginning to have a devastating impact on the lives of GNAT members, and most especially, Mutual Fund Ltd Contributors if not checked.

“How is our mother union, GNAT, in collaboration with our financial anchor- Teachers Fund Ltd, planning or contributing towards the welfare and general wellbeing of all members towards mitigating the adverse effects of the novel COVID-19 pandemic?”

• Save private schools, teachers salary – GNAPST, GNAPS to Nana Addo
• Teachers Being Milked like CASH COWS by Teachers Fund and GNAT

“How do the struggling majority of GNAT members and Mutual Fund contributors who contribute from GHc400.00 to GH₵800.00 Optional Monthly Premium and still took loans with their remaining affordability to invest in businesses that have been locked down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic survive under the current harsh living condition?

Coronavirus, commonly called COVID-19, is a global pandemic with its devastating social and economic effects.

This development has also affected greatly the normal lives of all Ghanaians, their work, businesses and other social and economic activities that used to support their daily livelihoods. Shops and other businesses opened and managed by workers, including our teachers as alternative livelihoods are shut down indefinitely, causing lockdown of their investments.

It is refreshing to note that the Ghana National Association of Teachers(GNAT) has equally augmented government’s effort towards combating the outbreak of the disease by making available to the government over Gh₵56,000.00 worth of accommodation and conference facilities to be used within the period under review for various COVID-19 combating activities.

Despite the above positive gesture towards the COVID-19 fight, a great majority of GNAT and Teachers Fund Contributors are humbly appealing to our Union and Fund Managers to kindly come to our aid during these difficult times. Price escalations, restricted movements, total/partial lockdown, compulsory/voluntary quarantine and self isolation are the major factors necessitating this passionate call. We know we are not in normal times. We also know that unions are formed so that in times like these, they would come to the aid of members to mitigate the damming effects of such shocks.

While pondering over the increasingly rising number of COVID-19 cases and the devastating impact of the current social and economic downturns on the lives of our cherished GNAT members and Mutual Fund Contributors, we would like to make this passionate appeal to the Teachers Fund through the GNAT Leadership, and to the GNAT Leadership as the Mother Union, for consideration.

It is the hope of the Coalition of Grassroot Leadership of GNAT that an immediate action would be taken to ease the untold pressure and hardships on our cherished members by adopting and/adapting these mitigating measures as promptly as possible.

Amongst our humble request to the GNAT and Mutual Fund Ltd include:

1. That the Teachers’ Fund grants at least Three Months Moratorium for May, June and 2020 to its loan servicing members to augment their disposable income during these difficult times.

2. That Credit Mall Limited of Teachers’ Fund changes its business strategy from the supply of Household Appliances to the supply of Food Items (Rice, beans, canned food, cooking oil, etc.) to members in the lockdown areas at the lowest interest rates on humane conditions.

3. That the Teachers’ Fund puts in place a temporary policy of granting Personal/Consumer Loans not exceeding a certain reasonable amount, (eg. GH₵10,000.00), and halt all vehicle, investment and habitat loans for the months of May, June and July, 2020 until the economy becomes stabilised.

4. That the GNAT Leadership directs all District Secretariats to carry out education on the novel COVID-19 pandemic and to supply basic logistics needed for the effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

5. That the District Secretariats of GNAT use the GNAT/CTF Resource Persons in the Regions and others to organise local Radio/TV Lessons for our children at home, during these times.

We hope and trust that GNAT and Teachers Fund Ltd would treat this appeal with the needed urgency and attention that they so deserve so as to continue to attract, retain and sustain the interest, trust and solidarity they have always enjoyed from our teaming members and fund contributors at the grassroots across the country.

The above are some of the concerns raised on behalf of teachers

Issued by the Coalition of Grassroot leadership of GNAT

Da-Balorror Stephen Sabo
Convenor
(Upper West Region)

Richie Ayittey
Deputy Convenor
(Central Region)

CC:
The President,
Ghana National Association of Teachers
Headquarters-Accra

The General Secretary
Ghana National Association of Teachers
Headquarters-Accra

The Mutual Fund Board Chairman

All Regional Chairmen-GNAT

All Regional Teachers Fund Trustees-GNAT

All Metropolitan/Municipal/District Chair Persons-GNAT

ALL Local Chairmen-GNAT