Ghana’s 54th Independence Celebration is under threat of being disrupted following angry nationwide demonstrations by teachers. Already, the National Schools’ Debate which is part of activities to mark the independence celebration has been disrupted. Hundreds of teachers converged at the GNAT Hall, venue for the final debate competition, and literally sacked the competing students out of the hall, Joy News’ Hanna Odame reports. The teachers adorned in red armbands, chanted and in some cases, pelted some of the students with sachet water in their bid to prevent the students from taking part in the competition. The teachers are protesting what they insist is the unfair and unjust implementation of the single spine salary structure, which has left them worse off. The teachers, cast in a mood of an angry mob, at the GNAT Hall are threatening a procession to the Castle, the seat of government, to present their grievances. A mob of teachers reportedly prevented a Police water tanker from entering the premises of the GNAT hall suspecting the police intended to spray the water on them. Some of the teachers threatened to disrupt the 6th March Independence Day Parade, having already and partially succeeded in putting on-hold, one key activity of the independence celebration- the debate competition. But the seeming ‘aluta’ is not exclusive to Accra. In the Ashanti Region, Joy News correspondent Ohemeng Tawia reports of the boycott of classrooms by the teachers. As many as ten schools in the Kumasi Metropolis have been closed down and taken over by football loving youth, Ohemeng stated. In the Western Region, Joy FM correspondent, Kweku Owusu Peprah joined the angry teachers who hit the streets and later presented a petition to the Regional Minister demanding an immediate resolution to the problem. In the Upper East, Joseph Osei maintains the situation is no different. The teachers are on a sit down strike. He said the teachers have been instructed not to go to the classroom until further notice. In the Upper West Region, only two schools were reported to have taken part in the final rehearsal for the Independence parade. The teachers, Rafic Salam reports prevented their students from taking part in the rehearsals. They have threatened not to allow them take part in Sunday’s parade. According to one of the teachers, whatever affects a teacher-physically, emotionally and financially also directly affects the students, swearing they will not allow the students to take part in the anniversary because they the teachers are not in the frame of mind to take part in the celebration. But the Education Minister Betty Mould Iddrisu has called for cool heads to prevail. She insists the Independence celebration is for the students and appealed to the teachers to reconsider their decision to disrupt the celebration. She said even though it is within the democratic right of any teacher to boycott the celebration she appealed to them to, in the interest of the country and the teachers, cease-fire. Betty Mould said her ministry will after the celebration take a comprehensive look at the concerns of the teachers and meet all stakeholders concerned. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana