body-container-line-1

Education directors negligence lands GES in huge judgment debts

By Ghana I Nhyira FM I Ohemeng Tawiah
General News Education directors negligence lands GES in huge judgment debts
AUG 24, 2016 LISTEN

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has warned it will no longer tolerate the conduct of officials whose actions cost the service huge sums of money in judgment debt.

Director-General, Jacob Kor, says negligence and unilateral action, especially, by some district directors against erring teachers have ended up in court.

Mr Kor will not name the officers but said they failed to follow due process in taking disciplinary decisions, sometimes, without involving national officers.

In one such instance, a decision by the District Director to unilaterally sack a teacher has cost the GES over Gh¢156,000 following a legal suit.

Addressing the 23rd Annual Conference of Directors of Education (CODE) in Kumasi, Mr Kor warned the service will not allow such acts to continue as the service is faced with several legal suits.

“There are so many court cases at the district levels and at the headquarters. Just at the headquarters, we have as many as seven court cases and sometimes when you want to use our managerial skills to stop them, they say contempt of court. I cannot do anything," he said.

"Seven court cases; and where are they emanating from, right from the district. Just because some due processes are not being followed in order to sanction teachers. You have no power to sack a teacher,” a worried Mr Kor emphasized.

Angered by the action of one District Director who is now deceased, Mr Kor told the education directors conference he would have been forced to cough the judgment debt if the unnamed officer were to be alive.

“It is unfortunately that this District Director has passed on. If he were to be alive, he would have paid a judgment debt of over Gh¢156, 000 for sacking a teacher. Because of this omission of a District Director not following due processes, GES will have to vomit Gh¢156,000.00. We will not also allow this to continue,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kor has cited school heads for blame for the perennial problem of examination malpractices which he says remains an embarrassment to the Service.

He says some officials including directors have received queries for flouting the rules.

“Management, I urge you all to make a special effort to refrain from such acts. Several letters on this issue have been written so now queries have come to such heads and directors who disobey directives,” he said.

body-container-line