A former Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, says he is grateful for the “numerous” goodwill messages and prayers he has been receiving since his appointment was terminated by the president.

“What gladdens my heart is that the messages are not dirges… I highly appreciate your unfathomable love to me,” he wrote in a letter to directors and staff of GES.

He took the opportunity to express gratitude to everyone who supported him during his tenure to change the faces of pre-tertiary education and the Service, saying “we worked as a team.”

President Akufo-Addo - in a letter dated October 17, 2022 - terminated the appointment of Prof Opoku-Amankwa and directed him to resume his position at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

One of the reasons cited for the decision was that “the exigencies that required [his] skills and expertise as Director-General of the Ghana Education Service do not exist any longer.”

Barely two days after his sacking, the president announced the appointment of Dr Eric Nkansah as acting Director-General of the Service.

His appointment took effect from Wednesday, October 19, 2022, pending receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the governing Council of the Service.

But Prof Opoku-Amankwa says he is excited at the “soothing and reassuring” words from the GES staff and the public.

“I wish to take this opportunity to thank every one of you for your dedication and the extremely good work relationship that existed between us.

You supported me in many ways to enhance my resumé to bring it to a distinguishing first class, world class CV, and I am highly grateful to you all,” he added.

Disappointment

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) says it is worried about President Akufo-Addo’s dismissal of the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES).

According to NAGRAT, the development is disappointing.

The President of the Association, Angel Carbonu, in a media interview on Tuesday, said it also has left his members overwhelmingly disappointed.

“This is very disappointing. We are surprised because we had someone who was able to build a very positive relationship and rapport with the union,” Mr Carbonu said.