Teachers locked out GES Boss; demands his interdiction

Outgoing Regional GES boss, Emmanuel Keteku, (L) with Successor (R)

Teachers and staff of Agortime-Ziope district directorate of the Ghana Education Service in the Volta region last Tuesday demonstrated against what they describe as the sordid state of affairs in the directorate under the directorship of Gershon Kofi Agyeman.

The about 400 aggrieved educations workers, clad in red armbands defy an early morning rain to besieged the premises of the directorate at Kpetoe, on the first day of reopening of schools to locked up the director’s office and demanded his interdiction.

They accused the director of financial mismanagement, autocracy and intimidation as well neglect of his official duties, a situation they claim has stalled progress of education delivery in the district since he took over three years ago.

A press release, read by the Public Relations Officer of directorate, Patrick Tekpor, on behalf of the protestors, stated that Mr Agyeman has been an absentee director who once a while, spends an hour or two in the office whenever he deemed it fit.

‘He has never scheduled any staff meeting since his arrival to discuss challenges confronting the directorate and education in the district and efforts to get the right things done prove futile.’

They also claim the director has sidestepped procurement procedures and unilaterally collect and spend budgetary allocations meant for schedule officers.  

Some Protesters

Rev. Samuel Sevor, Deputy Director in charge of Human Resources at the district directorate, said numerous complaints to superiors at the regional GES directorate about the attitude of the Mr. Agyeman have not been addressed.

‘We, teachers and staff of the directorate are no longer interested in working with this director and we’ll not rest until he is interdicted….. Else, we’ll halt all educational activities in the district.’

The agitations compelled the outgoing Regional Director of Education, Emmananuel Keteku and his successor, Alhaji Mohammed Haroon, to cut short ‘my first day at school’ tour of the region and rush down to calm tempers and disperse the teachers with a promise to address their grievances within one week.

He said the Director General of the Service is also aware of the situation and steps will soon be taken to resolve the issues raised by the teachers.

Meanwhile efforts to get Mr. Agyeman’s response to the allegations were unsuccessful as he decline comments, saying he needs clearance from his superiors.