The Ashanti Regional chapter of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) is calling for justice for 26-year-old teacher Ishmael Famous, who lost his sight after being stabbed by a student at Asuoso Senior High School in the Offinso North District of the Ashanti Region.
The incident occurred on November 18, 2024, when the teacher instructed 20-year-old student Alex Annor to return to class after the break. Reports indicate that the student refused, prompting the teacher to discipline him with a cane.
This escalated into an altercation, during which the student allegedly stabbed the teacher in the left eye, resulting in severe injury and the permanent loss of sight in that eye.
GNAT has condemned the act and is advocating for swift legal action against the perpetrator to ensure justice is served and to deter similar incidents in the future.
Speaking to the Ashanti regional chairman of GNAT, Prosper Tachie, he revealed that the student was arrested and later granted bail but due to threats and attacks from the community members on the teachers of the school, the staff have been asked to lay down their tools until the issues are resolved.
He also revealed that the GNAT Ashanti region has issued a one-week ultimatum for immediate actions to be taken.
While the one-week ultimatum is expected to expire on Monday, December 16, 2024, Prosper reveals that they are yet to receive any official communication from the association’s national leadership.
Prosper Tachie also indicated that they will not relent until justice is served.
“The gentleman in question is coming from the community and the fact that he was initially remanded angered the community. And for that matter, they started attacking the teachers, threatening them not to come to the communities to purchase something or transact business. At the end of the day, we were expecting the chief of the community to intervene.
“Rather he was mounting pressure on the affected teacher to withdraw the case from the court so that we handle the issue amicably. We think that he should be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
“The environment is not safe for our teachers, that is why we have asked all our teachers to lay down their tools, we have given them up until Monday.
“We have written to all the stakeholders that if they do not put in measures to ensure peace, and calmness prevails, then our teachers will not be allowed to continue to ply their trade in the community.”
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