Ferdinand | EducationGhana | July 18 | GNAT Under Scrutiny: Young Teachers Demand Accountability for Membership Dues

Young teachers and GNAT members call for transparency and accountability in the use of membership dues, urging leaders to judiciously utilize funds for teacher-assisting projects.

Accra, Ghana – The young members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) are calling on their union leaders to address pressing concerns regarding the use of their membership dues. With a significant amount of funds collected monthly, teachers are questioning the transparency and accountability of how their dues are being utilized.

A Call for Accountability

In a detailed submission, a GNAT member outlined the financial contributions made by the association’s members:

• GNAT Dues: GHS 58.44 (approximately USD 9.70) per member per month
• GNAT Cancer Fund: GHS 5.00 (approximately USD 0.83) per member per month
• Teachers Mutual Fund Dues: GHS 130.00 (approximately USD 21.67) per member per month

With over 240,000 members, the total monthly collections amount to:

• Total GNAT Dues: GHS 14,041,600 (approximately USD 2,333,333) per month
• GNAT Cancer Fund: GHS 1,200,000 (approximately USD 200,000) per month
• Teachers Mutual Fund Dues: GHS 31,200,000 (approximately USD 5,200,000) per month

This results in a staggering total of GHS 46,441,600 (approximately USD 7,733,333) every month.

Where Are the Funds Going?

Despite the substantial funds collected, many teachers report seeing little impact on their welfare, healthcare, and working conditions. The young teachers are questioning the allocation and utilization of these funds, calling for greater transparency and accountability from their union leaders.

Potential Projects with Monthly Collections:

• 275 clinics: One in each constituency at a cost of GHS 168,000 (approximately USD 28,000) each
• 550 schools: At a cost of GHS 84,000 (approximately USD 14,000) each
• Scholarships: For 4,000 students at a cost of GHS 11,610 (approximately USD 1,933) each

A Plea for Action

The young teachers are urging the leadership of GNAT and other teacher unions to judiciously use the collected funds for projects that directly benefit the members. They believe that the funds should be used to improve their lives and the education sector as a whole.

Full Submission by a GNAT Member

“GNAT Membership Dues: A Call for Accountability

As young teachers and members of GNAT, we need to address a pressing concern. Our union leaders collect our dues diligently, but what happens to the funds? Let’s do the math:

– GNAT Dues: GHS 58.44 (approximately USD 9.70) per member per month – GNAT Cancer Fund: GHS 5.00 (approximately USD 0.83) per member per month – Teachers Mutual Fund Dues: GHS 130.00 (approximately USD 21.67) per member per month

With over 240,000 members, the total monthly collections are:

– Total GNAT Dues: GHS 14,041,600 (approximately USD 2,333,333) per month – GNAT Cancer Fund: GHS 1,200,000 (approximately USD 200,000) per month – Teachers Mutual Fund Dues: GHS 31,200,000 (approximately USD 5,200,000) per month

That’s a staggering GHS 46,441,600 (approximately USD 7,733,333) every month! Yet, we see little impact on our welfare, healthcare, and working conditions. Where are our dues going? Why aren’t they being used to improve our lives and the education sector?

Consider this: with the total monthly collections, GNAT could build:

– 275 clinics (one in each constituency) at a cost of GHS 168,000 (approximately USD 28,000) each – 550 schools at a cost of GHS 84,000 (approximately USD 14,000) each – Provide scholarships for 4,000 students at a cost of GHS 11,610 (approximately USD 1,933) each

Let’s come together to demand answers and ensure our union works for us, not just a select few.”

By Clemento Asina

The Way Forward

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and other teacher unions must address these concerns promptly to ensure that funds are used effectively for the benefit of their members. Transparent and accountable management of dues is crucial to maintaining trust and ensuring that the welfare of teachers is prioritized.