Mr Mohammed Affum, Public Affairs Officer of the National Labour Commission, on Tuesday underscored the need for multiple unions in one organisation to exercise their democratic and constitutional rights at workplaces within the confines of the law. This, in his view, would not only bring about healthy competition but would also ensure that there was peace at the workplace. Mr Affum said this at the launch in Tema of the National Progressive Teachers Association (NAPTA), a new teachers' association within the Ghana Education Service (GES). He urged multiple unions to utilize their powers of association to co-operate with their managements so as not only to ensure industrial peace but also bring about increased productivity. Mr Affum, who performed the launch, advised executives of NAPTA not to toy with the welfare of members but to strive to go about their duties with dedication, commitment and zeal to help improve members' living standards. Mr Addai Opoku, Vice President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), urged the various teacher unions to form a federation to articulate the views of members. Mr Opoku warned executives of the new teacher association not to exploit members to enrich themselves. Rather, he said, they should render good account of themselves and to serve members in humility without lording it over them. Mr Khalida Rahman, General Co-ordinator of NAPTA, said the association should not be seen as a rebellious group that "seeks to break the front of teachers." He pledged NAPTA's preparedness to dialogue and collaborate with other sister associations within the GES. Mr Rahman said inasmuch as NAPTA would welcome interactions from sister associations, it would not accept and tolerate any group of persons who would try to play on the intelligence of teachers for their own selfish and parochial gains. "Such acts will vehemently be opposed at all costs", he said. Mr Abu-Bakari Mohammed, Acting Treasurer of NAPTA, appealed to the GES to give the association recognition and representation in all council and committee matters concerning education in the country. While commending government for upgrading Certificate 'A' Teachers to the Diploma status, he suggested that the programme be made more affordable to teachers. Mr Akwasi Adu, Assistant Director in-charge of Finance and Administration at the Tema Municipal Education Office who chaired the function, expressed the hope that NAPTA would live up to expectation. Source: GNA