The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) have gone on strike in protest of Dr Eric Nkansah’s appointment as the new Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES).
They declared the industrial action on Friday November 4.
Dr. Nkansah was appointed as the new Director-General of the GES by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to replace Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwah. The appointment became effective on October 19, 2022.
“I take this opportunity to congratulate you formally on your appointment. Kindly indicate your acceptance or otherwise of this appointment within 14 days of receipt of this letter, ” a statement signed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante said.
However, the appointment was denied by NAGRAT, GNAT, and CCT.
According to the associations, the new appointee is a banker with no teaching experience. As a result, they are dissatisfied with his appointment.
Mr Angel Carbonou, President of NAGRAT, said at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, October 20, that teachers were seeking for a person with a background in education to be appointed in order to bring his or her skills to bear.
This appointment is an indication that there are no qualified teaching professionals to man education in Ghana, he said.
Mr Carbonou indicated that they are annoyed and surprised by the appointment of Dr Nkansah.
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He said “What annoyed and surprised all of us was that a new Director General has been appointed to the Ghana Education Service.
“The authority to appoint Director General of GES is the President of the land. Unfortunately, contrary to what the teacher unions indicated that, we will want a Director General who is a professional teacher, who has passed through the mill, who can bring his knowledge, skills and influence to bear on the activities of teachers and non-teachers in the GES.
“Contrary to that, the gentlemen who was appointed yesterday is not a teacher, he is banking officer, who was a special assistant in the office of the Minister and has been appointed as the DG of the GES. We are not happy with this development, it is as of we don’t have professionals and well educated people who have gone through the mill in education in this country to run education.”
SOURCE: 3NEWS
