We’ve not endorsed Dr Nkansah as new GES DG – Parliament

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Education has denied claims indicating it fully has endorsed the controversial appointment of the Acting Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Dr Nkansah Eric.

The Committee’s comment comes after the Ghana Education Service in a social media post sighted by AcademicWeek said the Parliament Education Committee has approved the appointment of Dr Eric Nkansah to head the Service.

“The Chairperson for the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, Hon. Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah and Ranking Member, Hon. Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe paid a courtesy call on the Ag. Director-General of Ghana Education Service.

The Honorable MPs and members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education also assured Dr Nkansah of their support and guidance to help GES continuously fulfil its mandate,” the Education Service stated in the post.

But, a Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Dr Clement Abas Apaak speaking on the ‘TV3 NewDay’ show said his outfit in no way has endorsed the newly appointed Director-General of the Service.

“The Parliamentary Select Committee on Education has not endorsed Dr Eric Nkansah as the Ghana Education Service Director-General. It is not true we have endorsed him, we have not done that, “Dr Clement Apaak told TV3.

Asked why some members of the Parliament Education Committee paid a courtesy call to the Acting Director-General of GES on October 31, 2022, Apaak said his colleagues only went to interact with Dr Nkansah but not to endorse him.

In a related development, the Ministry of Education following a industrial action by three teacher unions over the appointment of Dr Eric Nkansah at 2pm will meet with the leadership of the pre-tertiary unions for a strike call-off.

The nationwide strike action comes after the unions citing discrimination against teachers gave the central government a November 4, 2022 deadline to relieve of duty Mr Eric Nkansah who according to them is not an educationist.

In a statement copied to AcademicWeek, the teachers said “we have decided to embark on a strike from November 4, 2022. We are informing the public that we are withdrawing our services in all pre-tertiary education institutions.”