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.  

Workers snub Nationwide Demo in Ho

The nationwide demonstration declared by Organised Labour on Thursday was virtually boycotted by workers in the Volta region capital of Ho, as only a handful of them turnout for the event.

The demonstration organised for workers in both the formal and informal sectors to protest against “harsh economic conditions and poor governance” was delayed for almost an hour due to the poor turnout.

Interestingly, the protesters who converged at the Ho Civic Centre STC yard, were virtually outnumbered by the about 200 police personnel deployed to provide security, as they marched through some principal streets of the regional capital amidst brass band music.

They carried placards, with inscriptions “John Mahama, we are suffering”, “We dey die keke, John Mahama”  “Middle Income Country, Low Income Workers” “Oh Mahama, Never Again”, “Reduce the Tax Burden,” “Motivate the Ghanaian Worker for a Healthier Economy”, among others.

However scores of workers who did not join the protest were seen loitering around their offices at the ministries, while those in the informal sector also went about their normal businesses.