A group calling itself the Ghana Trainee Teachers (GhaTT) says they are satisfied with the appointment of Prof Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang as the running mate for John Dramani Mahama ahead of the 2020 elections.
The group in a press release signed by its President, said they are particularly happy about the emeralds she brings to the table as an educationist.
“We, Ghana Trainee Teachers (GhaTT), write to express our deep-hearted enthusiasm for the nomination of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, an astute academician and a humble woman of integrity with enviable proven track records in the education industry”
According to the group, Prof Naana Opoku Agyemang as a former Minister for Education “ensured that all trained teachers from Colleges of Education were duly employed directly into the Ghana Education Service (GES).”
“In the Teacher Education fraternity alone, we can add to Prof. Opoku-Agyeman’s achievements as the Minister of Education who increased Trainee Teachers enrollment from 9000 to 15500 annually, added eight new colleges of education, ensured all colleges of education benefited from GETFund projects such as hostels, dining halls, teachers’ flat etc”, it stated.
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This comes contrary to earlier claims made by the governing New Patriotic Party alleging that her tenure in office as Education Minister introduced “inhumane treatment’ to teachers in Ghana.
Per the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s assessment, “Teachers were the hardest hit when Naana Opoku Agyemang was at the helm of affairs at the Education Ministry. Apart from their transportation allowances not being paid, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang also introduced the practice of teachers working for two years without being paid and being restricted to being paid only three months back pay, no matter how long they had worked.”
The Ghana Trainee Teachers (GhaTT) mentioned that unlike today, under Akufo-Addo, qualified trained teachers are being forced to sit for licensure examination and also undergo a one-year national service only to be denied employment afterwards”, said.
The group said it believes her appointment will restore automatic recruitment of teachers and the scrapping off of Licensure Examination and National Service.
Former President John Dramani Mahama confirmed Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman as his running mate for the December 2020 election.
The announcement was made after a National Executive Committee meeting held Monday, July 6, 2020.
The former Minister of Education who is the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast will be the first female running mate for the National Democratic Congress.
Source: Victoria Adonu/ATLFMNEWS
