The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) is demanding justice for Ishmael Famous, a teacher at Asuoso Senior High School (SHS) in Offinso North, Ashanti Region.
Ishmael was brutally attacked by a student last year and stabbed in the left eye while doing nothing more than his job.
For GNAT, this wasn’t just an isolated incident—it was a clear warning that the safety of teachers was at risk, and they were not going to let it slide.
The General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Tanko Musah, couldn’t hold back as he spoke on behalf of the union.
“Mr. Famous deserves justice, and he deserves compensation,” he declared. “He was injured while performing his lawful duty, and no teacher should have to endure such a fate.”
Mr. Musah was adamant that the teacher’s injury, which had left him permanently scarred, warranted Workman’s Compensation.
This wasn’t just about the physical damage done to Mr. Famous—it was about the emotional toll that the incident had taken on a dedicated educator, leaving him traumatized and questioning his very choice of profession.
The union’s demand went beyond the police prosecuting the student responsible for the attack.
Mr. Musah expressed deep concern over the silence of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education. He pointed out the failure of these institutions to address the situation adequately, particularly when it came to supporting Mr. Famous with his mounting medical bills.
“The lack of response from the Ministry is troubling,” Mr. Musah said. “They have a responsibility to ensure that teachers are protected, but they’re not doing enough.”
As the union rallied behind Mr. Famous, they made it clear that they would not sit idly by if their demands were ignored.
“If the employer fails to take action, we will have no choice but to advise ourselves,” Mr. Musah warned, his voice heavy with the weight of the union’s resolve. “And when that happens, nobody should blame us.”
RELATED: