A strike has been called by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) in protest of the appointment of Dr. Eric Nkansah as the new Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES).
They announced the strike on Friday, November 4.
Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwah was replaced as Director-General of the GES by Dr. Nkansah, who was chosen by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The appointment becomes effective on October 19, 2022, a Wednesday.
"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.
The new appointee, according to the associations, is a banker without any prior teaching experience. They are thus dissatisfied with his appointment.
On October 20, Mr. Angel Carbonou, President of NAGRAT, indicated that teachers were expecting someone with experience in education would be nominated so that they could contribute their knowledge.
According to him, this appointment shows that Ghana lacks skilled teaching experts to staff its educational system.
Mr. Carbonou stated that they are both irritated and shocked by Dr. Nkansah's appointment.
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."