Free SHS: Nine fee-charging heads pardoned

The Ghana Education Service (GES) Council says it has granted amnesty to some nine heads of various Senior High Schools interdicted for charging unapproved fees.

The heads were interdicted after they were found culpable of extortion following investigations.

The nine include the Headmistress of Kwenyarko SHS, Florence Pra; Headmistress of Ahantaman SHS, Mercy Ocloo; Head of Ekumfi Ameyaw SHS, Julian Okon; Headmaster of Assiwa SHS, Christian Attram ; Headmaster of La Presbyterian SHS, Samuel Salamat and Headmaster of Aggrey Memorial SHS, Rev. Franklin Boadu.

They were sanctioned after GES discovered they had no justification for charging unauthorised fees after the introduction of government’s Free SHS programme in 2017. Their fate has since been hanging in the balance with some teacher unions calling for their reinstatement.

But, speaking to Class FM’s Jerry Akornor on Monday, January 8, Chairman of the GES Council, Michael Nsowah, revealed the interdicted heads have finally been pardoned.

“We are done with their case and many of them have been pardoned and we don’t have any [issues],” he explained.

However, General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), David Ofori Acheampong says the process of interdiction was truncated for various reasons.

“In some of the cases there was complete miscommunication, there were others that you couldn’t hold the headmasters directly and others, the evidence was not that strong and we thought that going forward it will be in the interest of all of us to work an in atmosphere of peace to see the success of the programme.