The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in the Atwima District has questioned the continued detention of the Nyinahini Catholic Senior High School teacher accused of assaulting a female student, alleging that an “order from above” may be preventing his release on bail.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the Atwima District Chairman of GNAT, Amos Owusu, described the situation as unfortunate and called for fairness in the handling of the case.
“What has happened is very sad, and we shouldn’t tolerate these things for them to fester in our schools,” he said.
According to him, while the teacher’s conduct is under scrutiny, he remains entitled to the legal protections available to every citizen, including the right to bail.
“A teacher was doing his work diligently and had an issue with a student. He was arrested, but he has the right to bail,” Owusu stated.
He disclosed that GNAT officials spent the entire day on Tuesday at the Bibiani Police Station attempting to secure bail for the teacher but were unsuccessful.
“We spent the whole of Tuesday at the Bibiani Police Station, but he couldn’t secure bail because the police said they would arraign him before court on Thursday. We are ready to present him on that day, so why won’t they grant him bail?” he questioned.
The GNAT chairman argued that people accused of more serious offences have been granted bail in the past and wondered why the teacher’s situation was being treated differently.
“Besides, people have committed serious crimes in this country and were granted bail. Did he commit murder?” he asked.
Owusu said the teacher was arrested around 9:30 p.m. on Monday and has remained in police custody since then.
“The whole of yesterday we couldn’t secure bail, which means today too he will be in custody,” he lamented.
He further alleged that information available to the association suggests external influence may be affecting the bail process.
“We are hearing that an order from above says he shouldn’t be granted bail,” he claimed.
Despite the challenges, he expressed hope that the court would consider the circumstances of the case and grant the teacher bail when he appears before a judge.
“We are hopeful that when he appears in court, the judge will attach a human face to the matter and grant him bail, and we will make him available whenever necessary,” he said.
Owusu also complained about what he described as selective public outrage, arguing that teachers often face difficult situations without attracting similar national attention.
“Some teachers have experienced difficult situations, but no leader in this country commented. Everyone was silent, but when it is the students, it becomes a national issue,” he stated.
He further claimed that the student involved in the incident has appealed for the teacher’s release.
“The student herself has cried, pleading for his release because he was provoked beyond limit. So why are they still keeping him?” he asked.
The teacher is expected to appear before court on Thursday as investigations into the incident continue.
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