Dr. Eric Nkansah Replaces Prof. Opoku-Amankwa As GES Boss

President Akufo-Addo has appointed Dr. Eric Nkansah as the acting Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), effective October 19, 2022.

In a letter from the Presidency, signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, it was indicated that “pursuant to Section 19 (1), (2), (a) of the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049), I am pleased to inform you that the President has appointed you to act as the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service”.

Dr. Eric Nkansah is expected to communicate his acceptance for the role within 14 days.

The immediate past head of the service, Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, was relieved of his duties the day before—a decision that has been met with disagreement from executives of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT). The association indicated that the removal of Professor Opoku-Amankwa’s was “surprising” considering his performance as Director-General and the great collaboration he had had with stakeholders in the sector.

However, the Education Service has insisted that Professor Opoku-Amankwa, who had served for 6 years, was only asked to end his secondment as Director-General, but not sacked.

“We would like to place on record that Professor Opoku-Amankwa was not sacked as has been reported by various media houses but was rather relieved of his responsibilities as seconded staff to the GES to enable him to continue his services to Ghana at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST),” a statement from the Services Public Affairs Unit claimed.

Nonetheless, the Executive Director of Africa Education, Kofi Asare, has argued that Professor Opoku-Amankwa’s removal is in the best interest of the education sector as a whole, arguing that it will end a recent period of friction between the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education.

Dr. Eric Nkansah was the Director in charge of Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, Ghana. He joined the Ministry of Education in April 2021, having served as a Senior Lecturer at Kumasi Technical University for over eight years.