The Fast Track High Court in Accra on Tuesday ordered the striking members of the Ghana National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) to call off its eight-week-old strike to return to the classroom.

The court ruled that the President of the NAGRAT, Mr. Kwami Alorvi, the Vice President and all regional officers of the Association should return to the classrooms and teach.

The ruling followed an application filed by the National Labour Commission (NLC) praying the court to order members of NAGRAT to call off their strike action.

The court, presided over by Mr. Richard Asamoah, said NAGRAT should use proper means to achieve its objectives.

"The court will not give room to lawlessness in the country," it ruled, and also asked NAGRAT "to teach according to the laws and their conscience".

NAGRAT said it would appeal to a higher court.

The leadership and members of NAGRAT embarked upon the strike on September 1 to articulate their grievances. The NLC filed a suit on October 11 seeking, among other things, an order under Section 172 of Act 651 of the Labour Act, to compel the leadership in particular, and members of NAGRAT in general, to comply with the Commission's order directing them to call off the illegal strike.

Mr. Archie Martin Danso Jnr., Attorney for NAGRAT, who responded to the NLC's application, submitted that NAGRAT was not obliged by the Labour Law to call off its illegal strike.

Mr. Danso Jnr. stated: "We contend that the reason the respondent has not indicated that any dispute exists between it and the Ghana Education Service (GES), is that there is no dispute to warrant compliance with the provisions of Section 159 of the said Labour Act".

Immediately after the court ruling however, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of NAGRAT, Angel Kabonu told Joy News that even though they would abide by the court’s ruling and return to work, their output in the classroom could be unproductive.

“What we are going to teach in the classroom will be very questionable. Yes, the court can compel us to go back to class, the court can’t tell us to teach what we are supposed to teach in the various classrooms.

“Yes, so they are two very different issues. The judge has finished his job within the precepts of the court. It is up to us to use the tools at our disposal within the various precepts of our schools.

“The struggle is a struggle of destiny. It is a struggle of destiny and until such a time that our grievances are addressed fully, until such a time that the authorities that be are prepared to listen, we can go to the class and teach the children the wrong things.”

Mr Kabonu said NAGRAT Executives would convene an emergency meeting in response to the ruling.