Teacher Union rejects ‘new’ GES Director-General Dr Eric Nkansah

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has rejected the appointment of Dr Eric Nkansah to act as the new Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) following Prof Opoku-Amankwa’s dismissal.

Addressing the media on their concerns, the teacher union said the newly appointed Ghana Education Service Director-General as a banker has no background in teaching, thus their disagreement with this appointment.

President of NAGRAT, Angel Carbonu speaking to journalists said teachers were hoping that someone who has a background in education would be appointed to head the Service to bring his or her expertise to bear.

“This appointment is an indication that there are no qualified teaching professionals to man education in Ghana. What annoyed and surprised all of us was that a new Director General has been appointed to the GES,” he told the media.

Mr Carbonu continued that “we want a Director General who is a professional teacher, who has passed through the mill and can bring his knowledge, skills and influence to bear on the activities of teachers and non-teachers in GES.”

“Contrary to that, the gentleman who was appointed yesterday is not a teacher, he is a banking officer, who was a special assistant in the office of the Minister and has been appointed as the DG of the Ghana Education Service.

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,” the Association President stressed.

Dr Eric Nkansah after President Akufo-Addo ended the former Director-General in charge of Ghana Education Service, Opoku Amankwa’s contract of secondment was appointed to act as the Director-General of the Service on October 19.

Before he was appointed the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Dr Eric Nkansah was the Technical Advisor/Director in charge of Tertiary Education at the Ministry in charge of Education (MoE).

41-year-old Nkansah joined the Ministry of Education (MoE) in April 2021 on secondment from the Kumasi Technical University (KTU), where I served as Senior Lecturer at the Department of Banking Technology and Finance,

He holds a PhD in Financial Economics from the University of Zululand, South Africa, a Master of Business Administration (Finance) from KNUST Business School, Ghana, and B. A (Hons) Economics from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.