Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, Akatsi North MP.
The Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, wants the suspended headmaster of the Tempane Senior High School in the Upper East Region, Dominic Ndegu Amolale, reinstated.
Mr. Amolale was suspended following a viral video in which an aspiring National Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joshua Akamba, was seen inciting some students against President Akufo-Addo and the NPP government over the challenges facing the implementation of the free SHS policy.
According to Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, this action has rendered heads of Senior high schools timid and left them afraid to speak out about the challenges facing their various schools.
Speaking to Citi News, the Akatsi North legislator described the suspension as unfair, and called for his immediate reinstatement.
“It is rather unfortunate that the headmaster has been asked to leave his post. Looking at the issues carefully the headmaster didn’t give a platform to anybody. The headmaster is being victimized for no apparent reason. They [NPP] are making the heads of senior high schools timid and making them unable to comment on issues that are affecting the implementation of the SHS,” he said.
The Upper East Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES), last Saturday directed the headmaster of the Tempane Senior High School, to hand over the running of the school to the Directorate with immediate effect.
GES warns against political activities in Senior High schools
The Ghana Education Service (GES), which has described the development “inciting students against President Nana Akufo -Addo and the Free SHS programme,” has asked political activists to refrain from campaigning in various secondary schools.
“Management of GES condemns such acts and wishes to bring to the attention of the general public, especially political activists that the Ghana Education Service is a non-political state agency with the key responsibility of implementing pre-tertiary educational policy of the country and wishes to remain as such.”
“Meanwhile, all regional and district directors of Education and Heads of SHS have been directed to ensure that schools and students are not used for political activities without authorization. Management wishes to assure parents and the general public that steps have been taken to ensure that students and school premises are immune from such unwarranted political interference.”
Although GES rules are clearly against political activities in all schools except tertiary institutions, the two main parties often break the rules.
NDC’s Akamba slammed for inciting students against Free SHS
The youth wing of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has since condemned the Deputy NDC National Organizer over the incident.
In a statement, the NPP indicated that the development was a “clear indication of the NDC’s vicious intentions for the free SHS Program.”
While calling on the GES to investigate the issue, the party’s youth wing also called for sanctions against authorities who allowed the incident to take place.
Police invite Akamba for inciting SHS students
Meanwhile, police in Garu in the Upper East Region, have invited Joshua Akamba for interrogation, following reports that he incited some students at the Tempane Senior High School against government’s free SHS policy.
Mr. Akamba confirmed this to Citi News in an interview, saying “the Police have asked that I should report at the Garu police station.”
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By: Farida Yusif/citinewsroom.com/Ghana