Minister Sets GES On Fire As Overaged Deputy D-G Is Granted Another One-Year Contract

The Ghana Education Service (GES) is currently ‘boiling’, with some members of staff seething with anger, following the shocking news of extension-of-contract for its over-aged Deputy Director-General in-charge of Management Services (MS), Anthony Boateng; for the third time.

The latest extension granted the over 62years-old, appeared to have rocked the boat and currently tearing staff of GES apart, with some considering resignation out of frustration, describing the development as pure greed, contrary to he being due for retirement since August 16, 2020.

A letter from the Office of the President, dated 19th August, 2022 and signed by the Executive Secretary, Nana Bediatuo Asante said: “With reference to letter numbered DB287/436/01 dated 19th August, 2022, from the Honourable Minister for Education, Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, MP, on the subject matter above, I am pleased to inform you that the President of the Republic has granted you a further one-year contract of service as Deputy Director-General (Management Services) of the Ghana Education Service, effective 17th August, 2022 to 16th August, 2023.”

“It is expected that during this period of extension, you will continue in your current role and assist in the development of the National Education Institute as approved by the Cabinet,” the letter addressed to Mr. Anthony Boateng, and copied to the Vice President, Chief of Staff and Minister of Education indicated.
The Anchor has gathered that, the extension of Deputy Director-General’s contract has come as a big surprise to even some GES Council members.

But what is even more shocking, was the date the request for extension letter was written by the Minister of Education, DR. Yaw Osei Adutwum to Secretary to the Office of the President, which is last Friday, August 19; three clear days after Mr. Boateng’s contract had expired and with no consensus by the Council to extend same again.

Interestingly, Dr. Osei Adutwum’s letter, requesting for post-retirement extension service of Anthony Boateng, dated 19th August, 2022, was hurriedly granted the same day, the letter was written without any further delay.

The letter reads, “Reference is made to your letter OPS./08 /21/854 dated 2nd August, 2022 granting one year extension of Service to Mr. Anthony Boateng, Deputy Director General for the Ghana Education Service. Referencing the general principle and public policy on post retirement contracts in Ghana; I should be grateful to respectfully request for another one year extension of contract for Mr Anthony Boateng, current Deputy Director-General, for Management Service, Ghana Education Service”.
“During the period of extension, Mr Anthony Boateng will continue his current role and assist in the development of the Ministry’s National Education Institute as approved by Cabinet.

It would be much appreciated if this request is kindly brought to the attention of His Excellency the President of the Republic,” it said.
The letter was title, “REOUEST FOR POST RETIREMENT EXTENSION SERVICE OF MR. ANTHONY BOATENG DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL (MANAGEMENT SERVICES – GHANA EDUCATION SERVICE”

Anthony Boateng, was due for compulsory retirement since August 16, 2020; expected to go home and rest, but due to his alleged political links with the ruling party, has been refusing to bow out peacefully.

He has since been securing post retirement contract anytime the extension expires, a development which has denied other experienced and capable hands, the opportunity to serve.
This paper has learnt, the refusal by these retiree directors to go home honorably and offer the chance to equally-qualified people to continue – has left many of the staff at various departments and units at GES, extremely frustrated at their post.
According to some staff, those who are not in the good books of these superiors at the top, are sidelined and relegated to the background, whiles those who are not even qualified are given the job.

Sources say these old guards are at the GES regional offices in Greater Accra, Central, Ashanti, Volta, Bono, and Northern among others are still at post, because of their links with the Deputy Director-General, Anthony Boateng.
For instance, the likes of Ashanti Regional Director, Madam Mary Owusu Achiaw, the Central Regional director – Martha Owusu Agyemang, the Greater Accra director – Monica Ankra, Volta regional director – Madam Enyonam Afi Amafluga, as well as, Dr. Attafuah of Northern are all said to be currently occupying spaces, although they are due for retirement.
Interestingly, almost all of these regional directors refusing to go home are female, in exception of the Northern regional director.

In the case of the Bono regional director, Ivy Asantewaa Owusu, sources told this paper, she is allegedly not even qualified for the position but was given the job in an acting capacity, even though there were many qualified persons available.
Similarly, in the Ahafo region The Anchor has learnt, Madam Lucy Ama Ankra, who is the younger sister of Monica Ankra, the Greater Accra director was promoted to the “Director One” status, under strange circumstances.

She was said to have been allegedly given the job in an acting capacity at the time she was just a District Director.
However, she was hurriedly promoted after people begin to ask questions over her qualifications.
This development, the paper is informed, is raising tension within the GES, with some threatening to resist the move should government decides to give another extension for the third time.

This paper has gathered that as many as eleven out of the sixteen Regional Directors have also retired but are still at post and enjoying their salaries and allowances.

The Anchor in the coming days, will expose the hypocrisy of the current Director-General, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, over his 2017 letter on the “Compulsory Retirement of Ghana Education Service Staff”, where he claimed that GES will not entertain any application for extension of service after the compulsory retirement age of sixty?

More To Come…

Source: Anchorghana.com