NAGRAT welcomes GES directive for Ashanti Regional and Obuasi Directors to step aside

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has applauded the Ghana Education Service (GES) for instructing the Ashanti Regional Director of Education and the Obuasi Municipal Director of Education to temporarily refrain from their duties. Jacob Anaba, NAGRAT's president, deemed the action fitting, given the ongoing probes into alleged sexual misconduct related to the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Zakaria Abdulai.

Anaba raised concerns about the directors' handling of the matter, stating they seemed to view the situation as trivial. He argued that a more diligent and responsive approach from the directors could have prevented the school from being closed. On October 20, GES directed Dr William Amankrah Appiah, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, and Mr Kwamena Owusu-Nketiah, the Obuasi Municipal Director of Education, to cease their roles immediately.

The decision aimed to enable investigations to continue unhindered, according to the Service. The Obuasi SHTS headmaster remains under suspension due to allegations of sexual misconduct involving female students, with the case directed to the Criminal Investigations Department. Meanwhile, the school remains closed during the controversy.