GNACOPS  Raises Red Flag -Over Appointment Of Dr. Eric Nkansah As Substantive Director General of GES

The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS), has taken on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for appointing an astute banker, Dr. Eric Nkansah as the substantive Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) which is completely against the law and regulations governing the education sector in the country.

According to GNACOPS, President Akufo-Addo's choice of appointing  a banker, as the Director General of the Ghana Education Service, has not only fallen so short of people's expectations, but is also a violation of our professional education standards.

The concern of GNACOPS was raised in a strong worded press statement signed and issued by the National Executive Director of GNACOPS, Mr Enock K. Gyetuah and copied to Soireenews.com in Accra.

Mr Gyetuah noted that Ghana as a nation, has very fine laws, that have the capacity to ensure good governance, adding that yhe governance structure of our Public sector agencies, have been well taken care of in our law books. 

According to him, the Ghana Education Service as an allied agency in charge of Public sector pre-tertiary education under the Ministry of Education, is no exception.

He stated that the appointment of the Director General, who is the overall superintendent officer, should be done tactfully to bring harmony, innovation and progress into the service. 

He said that Director General of GES should be a respectable leader in Education, from whom the rank and file of the service could take inspiration and motivation.

On Monday, 17th October, 2022, he pointed out that the President of the Republic of Ghana, through the Ministry of Education terminated the appointment of Professor Opoku Amankwah as the Director General of GES.

According to him, this termination brought to bear, the urgency to find a replacement. 

"It was the expectation of the Education fraternity that, an astute Educationist with a good track record of experience, leadership and innovation would be scouted for within the corridors of education, to take over the vacant position,' he said.

He indicated that President's appointment of Dr. Eric Nkansah as the substantive  Director General of GES, has aroused many reactions from relevant stakeholders in education. 

He said the Ghana National Council of Private Schools as an upholder of good standards in education, does not support this appointment. 

He mentioned that it is no secret that there are ranks or levels in every sector, through which employees should pass, before being  promoted to managerial positions.

Mr Gyetuah rethorically asked that 'Why should educationists spend their lives in service to GES, go through promotions and ranks, if a banker could overnight become their Director General?

He stressed that GNACOPS strongly proposes that the appointment system of the Director General of  GES, should be looked at carefully from the service view point, and be restricted to only Professional within the Education sector. 

He indicated that it should be based on projectory experience,  qualification and skills, with rank & longevity in the service, being made the heart of the appointment, similar to what is done in the Police Service, in the appointment of IGP.

 

He stressed that that government and for that matter, the Ministry of Education must with immediate effect, take steps to correct  this situation and salvage the  professionalism in our  Education which has been subjected to public ridicule by this appointment.