Just In- GES gets new substantive Director-General

Dr Eric Nkansah, who has been the acting Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) since October 2022 has now been confirmed as the substantive Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) despite strong opposition from pretertiary teacher unions.

In a letter signed by Angela Frimpomaa Nkansah, acting Director of the Human Resource Management Department (HRMD) of GES, dated January 4, 2023, told all regional directors of GES to note that management has officially confirmed Dr Nkansah as Director General of the service. The letter reads;

“Management wishes to inform you that Dr Eric Nkansah Ag. Director General has officially been confirmed as the Director General of the Service. In effect, all correspondence and memoranda should be addressed as such. Congratulations to Dr Eric Nkansah, Director General, Ghana Education Service!."

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed Dr Nkansah as acting Director General in October 2022. His appointment took effect on October 19, 2022.

But on November 4, 2022, three teacher unions; the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT), opposed his appointment on the grounds that he was a banker and did not rise through the ranks of GES. The Unions declared a nationwide strike after the President failed to revoke his appointment.

They, however, called off the strike action on November 11, 2022, after the National Labour Commission (NLC) secured a restraining order against them over the strike.

What will the reaction of the teachers be now that the very person they opposed has been confirmed as substantive Director-General?