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GNAT launches book to mark 80th anniversary

A book that documents the 80-year history and activities of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has been launched in Accra.

Titled; “A history of GNAT”, the 146-page book outlines the sacrifices of the founding fathers, challenges and breakthroughs and the way forward for the association.

Written by a lecturer at the University of Education, Professor Kofi Darkwah, the book details both the trade unions and welfare activities of GNAT and its relations with the teachers organisations at the international level.

Writer’s experience

Speaking at the launch of the book, Prof. Darkwah said the book covered the period 1981 to 2011 as a sequel to an earlier book authored in 1981 by the late Dr T. A Osae.

According to him, the earlier book was launched to commemorate the golden jubilee anniversary of teacher unionism in Ghana, adding that “the present study was thus intended to mark 80 years of teacher unionism in Ghana.

“The irony of it is that the 80th anniversary fell in 2011, but the project was started in 2012 as a post ex facto project,” Prof Darkwah added.

He said it took him between 12 to 15 months to be able to document major significant and efficient information concerning the activities of GNAT over the past 80 years.

What the book contains

Reviewing the book, a retired lecturer, Prof. Divine Amenumey, described the book as an effective tool that would enlighten Ghanaians to understand the operations of GNAT.

He said for anybody to fully comprehend the events that had transpired in the work of GNAT over the past 80 years, there was the need for the book to be obtained as it directed readers to appreciate the association.

He recommended that the book not only be made available to members of the association, but also to the general public, especially teachers.

Why the book was written

In his welcome address, the President of GNAT, Mr Paul Agyei Boakye, said GNAT had been in existence for over 80 years and that the association thought it meaningful to document the sacrifices of the founding fathers.

“This is our second attempt at writing the history of GNAT. We are making progress partly because we are always guided by our history,” he said.

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