GES to investigate "vagina search" case

Kumasi, July 14, GNA - The Ghana Education Service (GES) has set up a nine-member committee to investigate the recent alleged abortion case at Saint Louis Training College in Kumasi, which has sparked a lot of public concerns.

Mr. T.A. Boateng, a renowned educationist is chairman of the committee which also has Mr. Festus Boadi-Suadwa, Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr. Eddy Obeng-Darko, a retired educationist, Mr. Abraham Kwaku Bonsu, Ashanti Regional Secretary of Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and Miss Alice Botchway, Ashanti Regional Director of the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs as members.

The committee is tasked to ascertain the veracity and immediate causes of the incident, establish the method employed to identify the suspects and find out whether the method adopted was acceptable in the circumstance.

It is also charged to investigate allegations and related issues and make appropriate recommendations within two weeks.

In her inaugural address, Mrs Belinda Serwaa Addo, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, advised the members to let their experience, integrity and honesty bear on their findings. She noted that the issue was of great concern not only to the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, the GES, the Catholic Church and parents but also to all meaningful Ghanaians.

"Even though reports from the College's Principal and the Ashanti Regional Education Office have been submitted to the GES in Accra, it is pertinent to set up a committee to delve further into the case", she said.

Mrs Addo advised the committee members to justify the trust and confidence reposed in them by using their expertise to unearth the truth of the case.

"Let me caution you that the task is not all that easy, but we believe that, however, daunting that it may seem, we can rely on you for a very objective and credible report", she said. Mr. Boateng, on behalf of the committee members thanked the GES for the trust reposed in them and gave the assurance that they would produce a fair and credible report. 14 July 07