Although Ghana’s labour laws prescribe a mandatory 3-month maternity leave for female employees in public service, Nhyira FM investigations reveal that female teachers in some second-cycle institutions in the Ashanti Region have been sacked for getting pregnant.

Pregnant and nursing mothers who have been victims of the situation say they have been traumatized by the experience, but heads of schools where this has happened say there is no link between the teachers' pregnancy and a decision to relieve them of their duties.

Other school authorities have indicated they will not comment on the matter because it was already before the Ghana Education Service (GES) regional office.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has described the ongoing situation as an illegality, and a breach of a collective agreement signed between them and government in 2009.

The collective agreement was signed between the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service and teacher associations’. it states that no female employee shall be dismissed on the grounds of pregnancy, after a similar wave of pregnancy-linked dismissals in 2009.

The agreement which was signed by then Minister of Education, Alex Tetteh-Enyo, endorses another 3-month maternity leave in addition to an annual leave, while nursing mothers also have two hours while on duty each day to nurse their babies.

But these are being flouted by some schools in region.

Female teachers at Yaa Asantewaa Senior High School, Osei Tutu Senior High and Nkawie Senior Technical all say they are afraid to get pregnant due to what have happened to some of their colleagues.

At Yaa Asantewaa Senior High School for instance, since last year eight teachers have been relieved of their position after they got pregnant.

In other schools, teachers were transferred to other institutions after they become pregnant.

“I have even gone to PPAG [Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana] for birth control because I don’t intend giving birth because I don’t know where I would be posted next time”, a distressed female teacher bemoaned.

Another teacher told Nhyira News that authorities frustrated her to the point where it begun to take toll on her health. Medical records of affected teachers reveal they either develop physiological shock or bipolar disorder.

As a result some teachers say they will delay child birth in order to secure their jobs in the education service.

Courageous female teachers who have attempted to seek redress at the Regional Education Directorate of the GES hit a dead end. They find out sadly that GES officials are themselves helpless because school heads call the shots in such matters.

Relatives, especially marriage partners of affected teachers interviewed want the Education Ministry to check the practice because it lowers education standards.

“Every where she went, everybody was asking her why has your head released you in this condition? The education authorities should sit up. It is something that is going on”.

School authorities deny the claims of teachers, but they will not go on record, on grounds the matter is before the GES regional office.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers describes as illegal such action resorted to by some school heads.

Regional Secretary, Charles Adum-Ntih Adomfour urges victims of such unilateral action to file official complaints with their respective teacher associations for redress.

“Rumours have it that there are people who are being victimized. The idea of open release is no longer acceptable in GES (Ghana Education Service) dispensation. Nobody can be transferred by word of mouth,” he explained.

But Regional Director of Education, Kofi Sarfo Kantanka, described the dismissal claims by the affected teachers as surprising.

He explained there was no GES policy to victimize female teachers, but added that under a rationalization programme, redundant teachers with less teaching periods could be relocated.

Mr. Sarfo Kantanka said the particular issue under discussion could only be a coincidence.

He supports the practice where teachers are released verbally.

“Though verbal release is not the practice,  it  is better than being documented” he said.