Over-aged Deputy GES Director-General ‘Sneaks’ Back To Office
The over-aged Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has reportedly been sneaking in and out of his office, after his contract of appointment was extended again, courtesy the Minister of Education Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.
It is unclear what is chasing the Deputy Director-General in-charge of Management Services (MS), Anthony Boateng, but, evidently, he has not had it smooth after his contract extension by President Akufo-Addo last August.
The 62-year-old, whose contract was extended for the third time, had shied away from office, following the agitation that greeted his contract extension.
Recall that in August, various teacher unions rejected the continuous stay of Mr. Boateng, saying the action by the appointing authority will impede progress and promotion of those aspiring to be at the top, demanding that he rejects the extension or be made to go home.
Months after that unpopular decision, Mr. Boateng has almost-all-the-time stayed out of his office, with many wondering what may have warranted his absence.
However, The Anchor has learnt that, though he had not fully returned to post, he allegedly visits the office sometimes to do a few things and hurriedly checks out.
Sources say, the embattled educationist-cum-lawyer had been working from home after the backlash over his contract extension and he is now reporting to work, except that he does not do it regularly.
Mr. Boateng was due for mandatory retirement two years ago, but thanks to the powers-that-be, the retiree’s contract was strangely extended, supposedly due to his connections within government. It had long been anticipated that, with his contract elapsing earlier this year, he was going to pave the way for others to step in his shoes.
His boss, Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwah, who was seconded to the GES from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), was in this October removed from office by the President.
Unlike Mr. Boateng, the former Director General (D-G) was allegedly not on good terms with the sector minister and, on a few occasions, clashed in the media and so did not enjoy the privilege of his contract being extended.
A letter from the Office of the President, dated 19th August, 2022 and signed by the Executive Secretary, Nana Asante Bediatuo, 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.
Recall that in August, various teacher unions rejected the continuous stay of Mr Boateng saying the action by the appointing authority, will impede progress and promotion of those aspiring to be at the top, demanding that he rejects the extension or be made to go home.
Not only teacher unions were unhappy about the contract extension, but it was frowned upon by GES staff and even surprised the GES Council members.
The news of the extension was allegedly 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 in August 16, 2020.
In a statement, the unions also called on GES to direct all persons past their retirement age to hand over their posts to the next in line.
A statement jointly issued in August by the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT), threatened they will be forced to disregard any directive from him and his cohorts in the event that they don’t not heed to their advice.
“The weekend has been inundated with concerns and agitations by the rank and file of education workers in Pre-Tertiary Education and other stakeholders on the issue of the post-retirement contract extension granted to the Deputy Director-General (MS) of Education and also the stay in office of other retired persons in education in the Ghana Education Service,” the unions said in a joint statement.
If by 30th September 2022, retired persons have not handed over their posts, the unions said their members will “disregard directives issued by these persons.”
Source: Anchorghana
