The Deputy Education Minister, Prof Kingsley Nyarko has expressed disappointment over the boycott of his speech by teachers at their annual meeting due to the Ministry's failure to deliver outstanding laptops promised to teachers.

According to the Minister, if the teachers had been patient, they would have known that specific timelines had been set for the delivery of the laptops, with arrangements in place to complete distribution by the end of August.

His comments come after the National Council of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) staged a walkout on the Deputy Education Minister and their national leadership for reneging on a promise to provide a laptop each to teachers across the country. 

• Read also: GNAT stages walkout on Deputy Education Minister over failed ‘1 Teacher, 1 Laptop’ promise

In response to the incident, Prof Nyarko expressed disappointment that the teachers did not allow him the opportunity to convey this information before reacting negatively.

“Those who got out came in singing and all that, so I kept quiet and I was watching them because I can't fight them. It is their legitimate right to express their dissatisfaction. In as much as the protest is legitimate because they have made part payment, I also knew that there has been arrangements to deliver the outstanding laptops. Through what I gathered from the minister, it was to be done by the end of August but they didn’t allow me to put this information out there.”

“But I want to assure those teachers involved that government will see to the full implementation of that programme. We need to also accord each other dignity, so if somebody comes to you, listen to the person and if what the person says doesn’t make sense, you can react in a way that is more measured.”

District chairman of GNAT, Sarfo Sarpong stated that the government's failure to supply the laptops had contributed to the union’s declaration of a strike.

“Some of our members have not received their laptops. As a result, the three teacher union declared a strike on it, among other pertinent issues. Today, July 22, there is still over 50,000 laptops left to be supplied...”

However, the teachers say they are not convinced the ministry will deliver on its promise and are prepared to go on strike again if there is no action taken.

The spokesperson for the group, Prosper Agbeli noted that an undisclosed timeline has been given to the government for final engagement on the matter.

“We have also given them timeline to engage government finally on this issues and the timelines we have given, we have kept it to ourselves. We will not disclose it and we will surprise the entire country with our decision when we get to that day. For now, we want the laptops for our members. they have paid for it. We are not ready in any way to accept a refund of the said money. If it would be a refund, we have to calculate an interest rate on it because things have changed. So it is better the laptop is being supplied to all of us.”

“If that is not done, we will be surprising the entire country with our actions at the right time,” he said.