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A hungry man is indeed an angry man – but should hunger goad a believer to forgo his creator and doubt salvation? – For NAGRAT, yes they can disown God in times of exceedingly abundant hunger.

The local cliché that says “Teacher will receive their rewards in heaven” – according to the Vice president of National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu is now hogwash with immediate effect.

His comment comes after his association hinted of a possible strike should government fail to address their grievances by 29th of this month - the association also cited among their concerns non-payment of salary arrears to 2013 and 2014 batches of newly recruited teachers.

A few days ago, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Coalition of Concern Teachers (CCT), in a letter addressed to the National Labour Commission (NLC) accused the commission of flouting various deadlines agreed on for the payment of their allowances.

Their concerns included:

1. The non-payment of salary arrears to 2013 and 2014 batches of newly recruited teachers, teachers on promotion and others who were re-instated or re-engaged. A working group under the auspices of the Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance was constituted to draw a roadmap for the resolution of all outstanding issues. By the roadmap agreed by the parties, the said salary arrears were scheduled to be paid on or before June 30, 2015. We wish to state that the deadline has elapsed and the salary arrears remain outstanding.

2. On the payment of vehicle maintenance allowance to deserving teachers, the parties agreed that allowances for 2013, 2014 and some months in 2015 were in arrears and they should be paid. When the teacher unions resolved to embark on and industrial action in October 2015 to press home their demand for early resolution of the same grievance, a new deadline of December 31, 2015 was set. That was also flouted.

3. We also wish to remind you of outstanding transfer grants and travel and transport allowances for some teachers dating as far as 2012. Again, this legitimate claim which the parties agreed to honour has been engaged upon.

The group claimed by these concerns, government (employer) has breached the agreements, and stated that all three teacher unions shall be ‘compelled’ to withdraw their services if their concerns are not resolved by February 29, 2016.

Speaking on OKAY FM’s morning show Ade Akye Abia, NAGRAT Vice-President Angel Carbonu was emphatic that their strike action will go ahead if indeed their concern falls on deaf ears.

He further noted that – the association will not act on compassionate grounds anymore with government as in previous times.

Host Kwame Nkrumah Tikese who was calming tempers down for the upset teachers to remain in class since their topmost reward will be in heaven for their remarkable service had a shock of his life when Angel Carbonu retorted; “Jesus is not our friend. For now I’m on earth, I am not sure I will go to heaven so let me receive my reward here on earth whiles alive. What if I don’t go to heaven? Where will my reward come from? There is no assurance that I will go to heaven!” 

He further noted that their sit down strike will come off as schedule if government fails to act fast to meet their needs.