Accra: Former President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Eric Angel Carbonu, and Ghanaian journalist Nana Yaw Fianko, also known as 'Speaker,' have engaged in a public dispute over the salaries and working conditions of teachers in Ghana.
According to Ghana Web, the conflict began when Nana Yaw Fianko, host of a program on Atinka TV, criticized teacher unions, including NAGRAT, for not doing enough to secure better pay and improved working conditions for teachers. Fianko accused some union leaders of prioritizing personal interests over the welfare of teachers, suggesting that about 70 percent of the issues faced by teachers are due to the union executives.
Fianko further alleged that these executives were too closely aligned with political figures, focusing more on personal gain than on the needs of the teachers they represent. His remarks prompted a strong response from Eric Angel Carbonu, who took issue with Fianko's comments and challenged him to reveal his own salary and employment conditions.
Carbonu questioned Fianko's claims about teachers' inability to afford luxury vehicles such as V8s, emphasizing that many public servants, including Fianko, might similarly find it challenging to purchase such vehicles. He accused Fianko of benefiting from the very system he criticized and demanded transparency regarding Fianko's monthly earnings.
The exchange between Carbonu and Fianko highlighted broader concerns about teacher remuneration, union leadership, and the financial realities facing public-sector workers in Ghana. The debate intensified as both figures exchanged heated words, each questioning the other's financial standing and the integrity of their respective organizations.