The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called for justice after a teacher at Asuoso Senior High School in Offinso, Ashanti Region, was stabbed in the left eye by a student.
The teacher, Ishmael Famous, reportedly lost his eye following the assault, which occurred after he asked the student, who had been loitering, to return to the classroom.
In a statement, GNAT demanded that the student be prosecuted and that the teacher receive Workmen’s Compensation for the injury sustained while performing his duties.
“The law requires that if someone is injured while performing their work, they should be compensated,” said GNAT General Secretary Thomas Musah. “Workmen’s Compensation is provided for such situations,” he added.
Musah expressed his outrage over attempts by some individuals in the community to downplay the incident and called on the police and Ghana Education Service (GES) to take immediate action.
He warned that if the authorities fail to act swiftly, teachers may consider withdrawing their services when students return from the Christmas break.
The teacher’s injury has had a life-altering impact, as Musah pointed out that Famous had permanently lost his left eye. “Who will take care of his medical bills?” he asked. Musah also highlighted that the teacher’s career is at risk, as vision is crucial in the teaching profession.
He explained that compensation should be provided based on the severity of the injury, noting that if the eye is lost, the teacher should receive an appropriate amount, similar to how compensation is handled for injuries to other parts of the body.
Musah urged society to support teachers in their vital roles, emphasizing that incidents like this should be taken seriously to ensure teachers can perform their duties effectively and safely.
