The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has strongly condemned attacks on teachers nationwide, declaring a zero-tolerance policy following the killing of Mr Yahaya Bukari, headteacher of Garu G/A Primary School in the Upper East Region.
Addressing delegates at GNAT’s National Delegates Conference on Monday, January 5, 2026, GNAT President Rev. Isaac Owusu demanded justice for the slain educator and called on the government to urgently improve security for teachers, especially those serving in high-risk communities.
Rev. Owusu described Mr Bukari as a committed teacher and union member who also served as GNAT District Treasurer for Garu. According to him, the late headteacher was killed while performing his duties.
“Your Excellency, Yahaya Bukari was a teacher, a GNAT member and our district treasurer. He was shot dead in the line of duty,” Rev. Owusu stated.
He added that Mr Bukari’s intervention during the incident saved the lives of several schoolchildren, yet, months after the attack, there has been no official response from his employer.
“But for his intervention, many schoolchildren could have lost their lives. Sadly, until today, we have not heard any response from the employer,” he lamented.
The GNAT President stressed that the association would no longer tolerate any form of violence against teachers, declaring 2026 as a turning point in the fight against assaults on educators.
“For the year 2026, we are declaring zero tolerance for teacher assaults and brutality. We speak on behalf of every single teacher in Ghana,” he said.
The killing occurred during a violent attack in October 2025, when gunmen opened fire in Garu, killing four people, including Mr Bukari.
Beyond security concerns, GNAT also urged the government to urgently review the Single Spine Pay Policy to reflect the administration’s resetting agenda.
Rev. Owusu argued that a restructured pay system would boost teacher morale and ultimately improve learning outcomes.
“We are resetting Ghana, and the pay policy must reflect that vision. A well-motivated teacher is more productive, and this directly improves the quality of education delivered to our students,” he added.
