The suspension of the headmaster of St. Augustine’s College is a step in the right direction, a former board chairman of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Agyewodin Adu-Gyamfi Ampem, has said.

Mr Joseph Connel was asked to step aside on Friday October 14 by the GES for demanding GHS430 from newly admitted students before releasing admission letters to them.

Speaking to Class News, Prof Ampem commended the decision.

“It’s a thing we frowned upon when I was with the Ghana Education Service because laws should not be flouted so we shouldn’t take kindly to this.

He explained that during his time on the GES board, the issue of illegal charges was a “management problem” that often came to the fore but “we saw to it that the person was dealt with accordingly” after investigations.

Mr Connel will be summoned before the disciplinary committee of the GES and faces demotion or possibly a criminal trial should adverse findings be made against him.

Prof Ampem added: “The Council is the highest authority under the [Education] Minister, and so whether somebody should be demoted or not after the hearing, even the Council after taking a decision has to consult the Minister.”