Union Leaders Or Union Lords? Time to Reclaim NAGRAT and GNAT

By; Romeo Sena Dogbe

Unions are meant to be the fortress of the worker—the voice that speaks truth to power, the shield against exploitation, and the advocate for fairness. But in Ghana today, one cannot help but ask: Whose interests do our public service unions truly serve?

Take the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) as examples. These unions, sustained faithfully through the monthly dues of hardworking teachers, have become shadows of their true purpose.

Unlike the civil service unions—where leaders remain in active service and continue to experience the same struggles as their members—public service union leaders often abandon the classroom the moment they assume office. And when they leave, they do not just set aside chalk and lesson notes; they disconnect from the very realities of the profession they claim to represent.

“The union dues of the struggling many have become the comfort cushion of the privileged few.”

A Union Detached from Its Members

How can a leader who no longer prepares lessons, marks assignments, or endures the frustrations of under-resourced classrooms, truly represent the Ghanaian teacher?

How can executives—living off union coffers with boardroom bonuses and fringe perks—convincingly negotiate with government for better conditions of service?

The truth is stark: leadership that is detached from the daily grind of its members loses both moral authority and credibility. Teachers deserve better than executives who have turned union service into a platform for personal enrichment.

Time for a Reset

If our unions are to regain their dignity and relevance, change is not just necessary—it is urgent.

Members must demand the following:

Active-Service Leadership:

Union executives should not abandon the profession. Remaining in active service—even part-time—ensures leaders remain grounded in the everyday challenges of teachers, as is the case with our Local, Zonal, District, and Regional leaders.

Salary and Bonus Caps:

Leadership must not become a get-rich-quick scheme. Strict caps should be placed on executive pay and allowances.

Transparency in Dues Usage:

Every cedi of members’ contributions must be accounted for. Public disclosure of union finances must be non-negotiable.

Leadership Rotation:

No one individual should monopolize union power. Fresh voices and diverse perspectives are essential for a vibrant and representative union.

“Leadership is supposed to be sacrifice, not luxury. Service, not status.”

The Call of the Moment

The teacher in the classroom, sweating under the sun with 60 pupils squeezed into a cramped room, does not need executives flying first class on union money.

The teacher struggling to afford a simple laptop for lesson preparation does not need leaders enjoying bonuses that could have equipped entire schools.

The teacher battling to pay rent does not need executives taking lavish vacations on union funds.

Union leadership must return to its original calling: sacrifice, service, and solidarity.

If members remain silent, the status quo will persist. But if we rise—together—to demand accountability, transparency, and reform, we can reclaim our unions from the grip of “union lords” and restore them as the true defenders of teachers.

The time for change is now. Let the voice of the classroom be louder than the silence of the boardroom.