Three Education Sector surprises, and a related Open Letter

I was quite perplexed when I read about the reaction of some teacher unions to the appointment of Dr Eric Nkansah, 41, as the new Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, replacing Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa.

Of particular interest was their vitriolic tone asking President Nana Akufo-Addo to withdraw the appointment.

Their reasons, as reportedly stated by Mr Angel Carbonou, President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) at a news conference on October 20, included: “He’s not a professional teacher and does not qualify to occupy the position. He has no teaching certificate. He is a banking officer.”

Thinking about their objections, which I found quite bizarre, I couldn’t help wondering whether there was another, perhaps sinister reason that they couldn’t state publicly.

In this era of multi-skilling and diversification, is somebody to be sanctioned for having multiple skills? In this age when, for example, people with titles such as ‘Rev’ and ‘Pastor’ are found in all sorts of occupations, is NAGRAT saying that it’s no longer advisable to venture into new areas outside one’s original training?

Thus it was extremely encouraging to come across a statement by the Concerned Citizens Against Discrimination (C-CAD), vehemently challenging the NAGRAT stance.

Prof Opoku-Amankwa was seconded to the GES as Director-General from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in April, 2017. His termination letter (on October 17, 2022), signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, stated in part:

“Moreover, the extension of your appointment by the 14th June, 2021 letter is a contravention of the Human Resource Policy Framework and Manual of the Public Services Commission (emphasis added), as it purports to extend your secondment beyond the 3-year Mximum limit.

However, to me, the attitude of the teacher unions was not the only surprise development from the Education Sector. Prior to that was the unexpected announcement of the termination of Prof Opoku-Amankwa’s appointment.

The third was the clear inference by the presidency that their June, 2021 letter extending Prof Opoku-Amankwa’s contract had been a mistake, their mistake!

If NAGRAT and other sector unions are disappointed at the removal of Prof Opoku-Amankwa, that is quite understandable. But when a mistake is revealed, surely the next step is a correction!

Curiously, despite NAGRAT’S sneering, condescending descriptions of Dr Nkansah, it turns out that he is not a stranger who strolled into the GES from a banking hall into the top GES seat.

Not only has Dr Nkansah taught at all the educational levels, he has been the Director in Charge of Tertiary Education at the Education Ministry for the last two years!

Where were the complaining unions when Dr Nkansah was appointed Head of Tertiary Education at the Ministry? If they knew he had no teaching certificate or experience to qualify him for a high Education sector position, why didn’t they raise the alarm then?

These were some of my thoughts about this matter, wondering if I was the only person seeing the NAGRAT stance as untenable when I came across the Open Letter to President Nana Akufo-Addo by the C-

CAD. It states cogently why the NAGRAT demand should not be entertained.

THE FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS FROM THEIR OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO:

“I, Maxwell Maundy – author/writer/columnist – and a group of concerned Ghanaians, the Concerned Citizens Against Discrimination (C-CAD), wish to register our displeasure with some executives of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) who are against the appointment of Dr Eric Nkansah as Director-General of the Ghana Education Service.

“NAGRAT stated: ‘We are not happy with the appointment because the gentleman who has been appointed is not a teacher. He has no teaching certificate. He is a banking officer. He has not risen through the teaching ranks. We are calling on the Government to quickly rescind this decision.’

“During interviews with leaders of various teacher unions, King Ali – President of the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana – described (Dr Nkansah) as a ‘goro boy’ (Hausa, meaning ‘errand boy’).

“As a concerned group who believe that public appointments should be based purely on merit and devoid of age discrimination, we find King Ali’s reference to Dr Eric Nkansah as a ‘goro boy’ unsavoury and unfortunate.

“To refer to a PhD holder, lecturer, consultant and an education policy and administration expert, who is also serving as a Member of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers as a ‘goro boy’ is amateurish.

“Mr. Carbonu claimed that Dr Nkansah has ‘done some small stint of teaching’ with Kumasi Technical University (KTU). Our checks indicate that Dr Nkansah has actually been a full-time faculty member at the KTU since 2012.

“Prior to this, Dr Nkansah taught Geography at Kintampo SHS from 2002 to 2005.

“Clearly, Dr Nkansah has gone through the educational/academic mill for the past 10 years, rising through the ranks to become a Senior Lecturer. Within the period, Dr Nkansah also served as an adjunct lecturer at KNUST.

“Therefore, for anyone to claim that over 10 years teaching, research and academic programme development experience at reputable tertiary institutions like KTU and KNUST is a ‘small stint’ is absolutely unfortunate.

“Dr Nkansah worked as a banker with Barclays Bank (now ABSA) prior to joining academia in 2012. Hence, (he is) a ‘former banker’. To refer to him currently as a ‘banking officer’ is rather disingenuous.

“Is it a Constitutional, or other labour requirement, for one to have a ‘teaching certificate’ and ‘rise through the ranks of the GES’ in order to become the Director-General?

“Does the role of Director-General involve going to the classroom to teach?

“We wish to express our displeasure at the canker of age discrimination in the Ghanaian labour market, especially in the public sector.

“Dr Eric Nkansah should not be perturbed by the actions of NAGRAT executives, but remain steadfast and focused on delivering his mandate for the betterment of the GES and mother Ghana.

“We humbly call on His Excellency the President, to uphold the appointment, unless there are serious reasons, other than those presented by the NAGRAT.”

It is signed: “Maxwell Maundy
(On behalf of Concerned Citizens Against Discrimination).”

I support the C-CAD appeal to the President.

And I find it extremely regrettable, astonishing, that NAGRAT either didn’t do a background check on Dr Nkansah, or chose to ignore the available facts. Either way, it doesn’t show respect for the Education Minister and the GES Council; or for President Akufo-Addo.

Furthermore, it certainly doesn’t reflect well on the image of NAGRAT.

(ajoayeboahafari@yahoo.com)