GES GIVE TEACHERS ULTIMATUM TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM

The Ghana Education Service has given striking teachers up to Friday to halt their action and go back to the classroom.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service Charles Parker Allotey says failure to heed the directive would result in sanctions on the teachers.

Mr. Allotey explained that the GES, together with the two main teachers’ associations – National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) - have agreed that teachers return to the classrooms after various fruitful negotiations with the government.

Mr Allotey indicated that the service has called on teachers to immediately report to work, stressing that "we’ve given them up to Friday to report…”

He pointed out that the GES does not recognise the Coalition of Concerned Teachers and would therefore not have dealings with them.

Mr Allotey accused leaders of the group of having a hidden agenda to pursue and that the group did not expect government to resolve the impasse this early.

OVER-BLOATING OF GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENT TO DISTRICT ASSEMBLIES BREEDS CONFUSION

Confusion erupted in Sekondi Takoradi after some district assembly members challenged government’s procedure of selecting appointees to the assembly.
Some of the protesting assembly members were whisked away by macho men, but it is not clear where the macho men came from or who sent them.
However sources say some agitating assembly members have been accusing the DCE of appointing more than 30% as required under the local government law.
The situation was the same in the Eastern Region, where some members in the assembly complained about government procedure in appointing district assembly members.
However, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Samuel Ofosu–Ampofo has denied that the government over-bloated the government’s appointments to the district assemblies to give the advantage to the government.
The minister also says gazetting the list of DA members is only a prerequisite to inauguration the Das when there are electoral disputes.
He says since there are no electoral disputes the inauguration of the district assemblies can go.

GOVERNMENT DENY OVER-BLOATING DISTRICT ASSEMBLIES APPOINTEES

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Samuel Ofosu –Ampofo has denied that the government over-bloated the government’s appointee in the district assembly to give the advantage to the government.
He explains that gazating is when there are electoral disputes and court orders. He says since there was absence of any electoral disputes the inauguration of the district assemblies can go.
The Minister confirms that even though there may be discrepancies in some of the electoral areas, however the inauguration of the district assemblies can still go on.
Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo stress that the Ministry of Local Government has with directive from the EC has gazetted all the list of members in the district assemblies.
He assures stakeholders that nothing untoward would be done to derail the local government system.

The former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Kwadwo Adjei-Darko says is unfortunate for government involvement in the alleged over bloating of the district assemblies appointees.
He explains that the before the Ministry set a date for the inauguration of the district assemblies, they should have cross checked with the electoral commission.
Kwadwo Adjei-Darko says the Ministry should therefore be held responsible for the incidents caused.
He explains that the Ministry of Local government can not confirm that they gazatted the district assemblies elections.