TTAG adopts and promulgates new Constitution for teacher trainees

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TTAG adopts and promulgates new Constitution

The Teacher Trainees’ Association of Ghana (TTAG) has adopted and promulgated a new Constitution for teacher trainees across the Forty-six (46) Accredited Public Colleges of Education in Ghana.

The reviewed constitution was approved, adopted and promulgated at an extra-ordinary General Assembly/Mini Congress held at the SDA College of Education at Asokore-Koforidua in the Eastern Region of Ghana led by Jonathan Dzunu – TTAG National President.

The Constitutional Instrument (CI) on the colossal review of the TTAG constitution was presented to the extra-ordinary General Assembly by the Chairman of Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) Mr. Oscar Kofi Agbo on 4th December, 2022.

Oscar Kofi Agbo led CRC also filed the reviewed documents before the House for discussion, approval, adoption and promulgation, which was passed into Law by the House.

Effective date of the TTAG Reviewed Constitution

The new TTAG constitution takes effect at the beginning of the 2022/2023 Academic Year. This was approved by the extra-ordinary General Assembly.

Reasons for the Review of TTAG Constitution

The Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana saw the need to have a new Constitution which is dynamic enough to satisfy the changing trends of TTAG which is evident today, where some provisions in the Constitution have out-lived their essence while other legal and administrative inputs which the dynamism of the Association had warranted over the years had no Constitutional Provisions to that effect.

There came a formation of a five (5) member Constitutional Review Committee by the 21st Annual Delegates’ Congress under the able leadership of His Excellency Sampson Tagbor, TTAG President 2015/16 held in Tamale and amended with four (4) additional members by the 23rd Annual General Assembly held at Gbewaa College of Education, Pusiga making a total of nine (9) members led by Mr. Oscar Kofi Agbo as Chairman of the Committee.

Mandate of the TTAG CRC

The Committee was tasked to do a colossal review of the TTAG Constitution.

As a prerequisite and for the purpose of coordination, the Committee adopted a consultative approach in its operations, this it did by consulting with a broad spectrum of students and individuals in their official or private capacities as the case may be, the prime consideration being the contribution they can make to this all-important exercise towards the attainment of a more consecrated Constitution for the Association.

The committee accepted only written submissions from the TTAG fraternity. Such opinions were carefully examined and analyzed.

Where there was the need of asking anyone to come in person before the committee in order to explain, elaborate or clarify any point in their written submission, the committee extended such invitations.

However, for the benefit of those that did not get the opportunity to intercept the hardcopy of the TTAG Constitution, a soft copy was attached to a notice sent to the trainee fraternity to seek for their views and ideas before the commencement of work.

All proposals were forwarded to the Committee via the email address:
[email protected].

The Committee has made briefings and presentations on the document to the statutory bodies of the Association i.e., the National Executive Council, the Judicial Committee and the General Assembly. The Committee officially began work on March 30, 2018.

Synopsis on scope of TTAG Review Constitution

Synopsis on scope of work done on the various chapters of the document has been outlined by the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC).

Chapter One

Chapter one comes with the inclusion of articles on the Supremacy and Enforcement of the constitution. These are intended to outline clearly the scope and authority of the Constitution.

Another inclusion in this chapter is the provision made to defend the constitution. This is to allow all members of the Association to have the right and duty at all times to defend the Constitution and repel any action of a person or group of persons to undermine this Constitution.

Chapter Two

This chapter is now designed to set out the name of the Association, the Secretariat, slogan & motto. No provision on the address of TTAG National Secretariat is restated in the Constitution in recognition of the fact that TTAG has no permanent Secretariat for now and it may happen that TTAG may have a Secretariat outside Accra College of Education.

Most importantly an address is an administrative matter not meant for the Constitution. It further commits every member of the Association to its aims and objectives and the status of TTAG.

Chapter Three

This chapter deals with the membership of the Association. One review made is for TTAG to recognize every student from a College of Education in Ghana which is approved by TTAG and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) (not the Ghana Education Service) to be a member of TTAG.

In addition, every teacher trainee shall continue to enjoy full membership of TTAG for one year after completion of programme. This chapter also made provisions for Associate Members without any change.

The establishment of Council of Patrons is well structured with supplementary provisions including making them an Advisory Board of the TTAG. This provision also describes the characteristics and credentials one must possess to qualify as a Patron.

PRINCOF, CETAG, NAGRAT, CCT-Gh and TEWU have been included as affiliates to TTAG for the Association not to exist in isolation.

Chapter Four

Chapter four captures the organization and structure of the Association. Most significant and major reviews are made on the provisions for Congress.

The provisions for General Assembly come with major changes. The membership of the General Assembly has been revised and there shall be two (2) General Assemblies in a year depending on the financial strength of the Association. The business to be transacted at the GA has been clearly outlined in this chapter.

This chapter also reflects the core mandates of the National Executive Council (NEC) and the National Secretariat and the provision for Emergency NEC meetings.

The instituting and sustenance of the Sectors and the Local TTAG Secretariats have been strengthened which are aimed at assisting in the decentralization process of TTAG and to provide TTAG with a firmer base – grip

There were no changes to the Sectors that exist, the significant addition here is the inclusion of the new colleges in the list of colleges within the jurisdiction of the Sectors.

Chapter Five

In this chapter of the Constitution there are no major changes to the core duties of the national officers as spelt out. The duties are only tailored to conform to standard and tertiary or institution of higher education acceptable administrative patterns. Financial Secretary is changed to Financial Controller.

Chapter Six

This chapter comes with the institution of Standing and Ad-hoc Committees. The established standing committees include; Project & Progammes Committee, Finance Committee, Audit
Committee, Judicial Committee, Electoral Commission and Editorial Board.

It also comes with the reinforcement of the Electoral Commission. An attempt has additionally been made for a fairer sector – representation when it comes to membership of committees, commissions and boards. This is intended to provide a non – one – sided approach in TTAG appointments.

A cautious perusal of this chapter reveals that no detailed procedures have been laid down for the functioning of the Judicial Committee, the Electoral Commission, as well as the Finance Committees.

This is certainly not an oversight; it is to give room for the Committees to spell out their own rules of procedure that would be practical enough to suit changing times. They are entreated to stringently uphold the rules of natural justice, standardized electoral practices, internationally-acclaimed auditing principles and acceptable accounting practices respectively.

Chapter Seven

This chapter deals with issues of elections. Even though some provisions under this chapter remain unchanged, major trimmings have been made. The introduction of accreditation card as a proof that one is a delegate before being allowed to vote.

Regulations governing elections and voting have been well captured and included in this chapter.

Chapter Eight

This chapter is reflective of provisions to cater for the procedure to suspend or remove one from office, resignation of an officer and vacancy of office.

Chapter Nine

Chapter nine does not come with major changes, yet measures to ensure orderly custody and usage of the Association’s funds have been catered for. Here, we were guided by the much precedence the Association has set for itself in this area over the years. This chapter catered for the disbursement of the dues into projects and administrative expenses on percentage wise.

In the event that trainees are not paid allowances, a provision has been made on a monthly dues payable by every trainee.

Chapter Ten

In this chapter, Congress reserves the power to make by-laws within the framework of the Constitution.

This chapter is also intended to allow members of the Association change certain articles and clauses as and when changing trends of TTAG demand and thus make the Association better placed to be as dynamic as possible. Entrenched provisions have been captured in this chapter.

Chapter Eleven

The final chapter provides for indemnity, standing orders, unconstitutional portfolios, suspension of parts of the constitution, breach of constitution, transition period/handing over, honoraria and as well defines TTAG Celebrations. It further creates a TTAG Newsletter for adequate flow of information.

It further binds the Constitution on all members of the Association. It also explains words and phrases used in this Constitution.

Schedule One

Outlines transitional provisions upon coming into force of the Constitution.

Schedule Two

No changes are made in this schedule, all provisions are maintained as they exist. It outlines in details the standing orders of meetings.

Schedule Three

This schedule comes with an inclusion of judicial oath, other committees’ oath, oath to be taken before various bodies and an appendix that spells out the list of member institutions.

CRC Appreciation

The CRC acknowledges the efforts of the National Executive Council of the 2021/22 TTAG Year with special credit to Mr. Jonathan Dzunu (TTAG National President 2022) and Mr. Ernest Kparibo Biemiba (National Coordinator 2022) for the premium placed on the elements of continuity by keeping faith with the Constitutional Review Committee and the creation of an enabling atmosphere and provision of necessary logistics in making the committees work a success to the end.

The Committee thanks all members of the TTAG who took interest in the review process by reading through the drafts and making brilliant contributions therein.

Conclusion

For effective realization and attainment of a more consecrated legal document dynamic enough to satisfy the changing trends of the Association which are relevant to the contemporary life of the Association and replicate the dynamism and vitality which the Association has warranted over the years, this Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) is wherefore, laid before General Assembly as a document to provide an all – encompassing Reviewed Constitution for the Association.