Wusuta Teachers take French Leave. After female colleague had been clubbed

Story: Tim Dzamboe, Wusuta

A female teacher at the Evangelical Presbyterian Primary School at Wusuta in the Kpando district, Miss Mary Gidisu was clubbed by an unknown person when was taking her bath about 8 p.m last Monday..
She fell unconscious and was rushed to the Hohoe Government Hospital where she was said to be responding to treatment.
The situation had created fear and panic among teachers in the town and consequently closed down schools and also refused to conduct terminal examinations for pupils.
Following a petition to the Ghana National Association of Teachers(GNAT), EP Eduactional unit, the Kpando District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service(GES) seperate emergency meetings were held with teachers and traditional authorities, elders, a section of the youth, Parent Teacher Associations(PTAs) and School Management Committees(SMCs) to resolve the impasse amicably.
Prior to the attack on the lady teacher, it was alleged that some citizens of the town were making derogatory remarks on the teachers, threatening their lives, defaecating and smearing of charms in classrooms and stealing property belonging to the teachers.
These had discouraged teachers and demoralized them from entering the classrooms to teach leading to the closure of all six primary schools in the town for about a week.
Addressing a meeting last Wednesday, the chief of the town Togbe Honu Letsa IV disclosed that measures had been put in place to ensure the safety of the headteachers and teachers adding that security lights will be installed on school campuses in addition to the engagement of a watchman to check loitering around the classrooms in the night.
He appealed to the officials to impress upon the teachers to exercise restraint saying that “our community is at the crossroads and we plead that nothing is done to jeopardise the education of the children”.
An elder and opinion leader, Mr Seth Atigah said a series of meetings had been held with the teachers to find solutions to the unfortunate situation but to no avail and promised that the leaders of the community will not countenance the unlawful acts.
The regional secretary of GNAT, Nana Pobee Asomaning Darko condemned the acts and stressed the need to tackle the issue collectively and professionally while sympathizing with heads and teachers.
He appealed to teachers to abandon their intended actions and go about their normal duties while the traditional authorities, elders and the police conducted investigations into the matter.
The Kpando District Director of GES, Mr E.K Keteku cautioned the teachers on implications of whatever action they took in order not incur the displeasure of sympathisers and their employers.
For his part, regional manager of EP Schools, Mr E.K Dzikunu asked the teachers to have confidence in the leadership of the community, show considerable remorse and return to the classroom to complete the academic calendar for the term.
He said they would not compromise the education of the children and safety of teachers.