Dr. Eric Nkansah, GES Director General
An educational activist from the Kintampo North Municipality of the Bono East Region, Owusu Adjei, has urged critics, particularly teacher unions, who are fighting the appointment of the Acting Director General of the Ghana Education Service, Dr. Eric Nkansah, to come out clear on their reasons for such objection.
Speaking to the media yesterday, he noted that the mode of appointment of the GES Director General remains the prerogative of the President as stated in Article 195 of the 1992 Constitution, adding that this does not include the educational qualification or a rank in the GES as a criterion.
“Is it the case of looking for a ‘soft person’ they can ride over or a case of looking for a ‘right person’ for the role of the Director General?” he quizzed.
He explained, “The pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 Act 1049, in no ambiguous term spells out clearly the Membership of the GES of which ‘any other person employed for the Education Service is included’. The GES consists of Teaching and non-teaching staff of which some occupy the position of financial controller, Chief Internal Auditor etc in the Ghana Education Service.”
Wrong impression
He added that it would be wrong for the teacher unions to create an impression that the progression of teachers or members of the GES will automatically end at the position of a Director General.
He further indicated that it is completely wrong for the teacher unions to suggest that “Dr. Eric Nkansah is not an educationist and turn round to admit that people from the Academia have assumed the role of the Director General in the past.
“Dr. Eric Nkansah has over 15 years of experience in academia and education policy administration, the exact function of the Director General, and has also served on many governing councils in the education service, notably at Koforidua Technical University and St. Louis College of Education,” he noted.
“This puts him in a rightful position to serve GES and for a person who has dedicated his service to the education sector, he deserves better than being hounded. It is in the interest of all stakeholders to let cool heads prevail and allow Dr Nkansah to serve in peace,” he said.
“In my candid opinion I strongly think the archaic way of doing things in the Ghana Education Service “me baa yɛ akyɛ” to outwit I have been here for long and not on one’s expertise has outlived its usefulness in the GES hence my strong conviction that, the Ministry of Education and the President did not err by appointing Dr. Eric Nkansah as the Acting Director General of the GES and therefore has to be confirmed,” he added.
