Page 35
March 5, 2008
Formal education has undergone several changes since in the country over the years. The changes, which were adopted to meet the needs and trends of education, have in no small way contributed to its delivery.
The colonial government played a very significant role in the development of education in the Gold Coast. Until this time educational activities had been confined to the castles schools.
The second half of the 19th century saw an expansion in educational activities in the Gold Coast. The year 1850 saw the appointment of a Governor for the Gold Coast, who made education the pre-occupation of the new government. By 1856, the British authorities had managed to open more schools, including one girls’ school at Cape Coast. In the same year, the Colonial Chaplain, Rev C.S. Nassels, was appointed superintendent and Inspector of Schools.
A Board of Education was set up in 1882 to control and supervise the system, and the Principal of Fourah Bay College, Rev M. Sunter, was appointed Inspector of Schools. The government acted promptly after realising the difficulty in inspecting all the schools because he was based in Sierra Leone.
Mr George Macdonald was appointed the first Director of Education for the Gold Coast in 1890. This marked the autonomy and full establishment of the Gold Coast Department of Education. The creation of the Department of Education of the Gold Coast marked the beginning of a more unified system of management of schools and other policies on education in the colony.
With the education sector facing challenges, Sir Gordon Guggisberg, on his appointment as Governor, started to address the problems. Thus, the period between 1919 and 1927 saw remarkable developments in the field of education in the Gold Coast. Guggisberg set up a committee of educationists under the Director of Education, Mr D.J. Oman, in 1920. On the committee was an African, Mr Josiah Spio-Garbrah, who had been the headmaster of the then Government Boys’ School at Cape Coast since 1912, and from 1923, Inspector of Schools.
With the handover of the reins of government to Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the Department of Education, which was one of the technical departments of the colonial secretariat, was abolished and replaced with the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare in 1951. It was headed by Kojo Botsio from 1951-1954, who was the first minister.
In 1955, the name of the ministry was changed to the Ministry of Education with Joseph Allasani as minister till 1960 when it was again changed to the Ministry of Information and Education with Kofi Baako as the minister. The Education section was separated from Information in 1961 with A.J. Dowuona-Hammond as the Minister of Education.
A Commissioner for Education, Mojaben Dowuona, was named after the 1966 coup. The designation of the ministry was subsequently changed to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports with William Ofori-Atta as the minister. In 1971, R.R. Amponsah headed the Ministry of Education and Sports. Lt. Col. Paul Nkegbe became the Commissioner for Education from 1972 to 1973 when it was restructured as the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Some of the agencies that operated under the ministry then were the Arts Council of Ghana, which was established in 1968 by NLC Decree No. 252; the Ghana Library Board set up in 1950; the Ghana Institute of Languages established in 1961, the Bureau of Ghana Languages, established in 1951 and the Ghana Teaching Service (now Ghana Education Service) to take care of non-teaching staff set up in 1974.
Between 1974 and 1975, Col. E.O. Nyante was the Commissioner of Education and Culture. From 1976 to 1978, E. Owusu-Fordwuoh took over as Commissioner for Education and Culture. Dr Evans Anfom became Commissioner for Education in 1979, Dr Kwamena Ocran, Minister of Education, Culture and Sports in 1980 and Dr F.K. Buah, Minister of Education in 1981.
Others were Ama Ata Aidoo, Secretary for Education (1982/83), V.C. Dadson, Secretary for Education (1984), Joyce Aryee, Secretary for Education (1985/86), Dr Mohammed Ben Abdallah, Secretary for Education (1987-1988) and K.B. Asante, Secretary for Education (1989-1990). The rest were Dr (Mrs) Mary Grant, Secretary responsible for Education (1991/92) and Dr Alex Ababio, acting Minister of Education (1993), Mr Harry Sawyer (1993-1996), Dr Christina Amoako-Nuama (1997-1999) and Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah (1999-2000).
When the current government took the country’s administration in 2000, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi was appointed Minister of Education, Youth and Sports in 2001. In 2003, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu was made Minister of Education, Youth and Sports. The name of the ministry was changed to the Ministry of Education and Sports in 2005 with Yaw Osafo-Maafo heading it. In the same year, following a Cabinet reshuffle, Papa Owusu-Ankomah was made the minister with the name of the ministry changed from the Ministry of Education and Sports to the current Ministry of Education, Science and Sports.
To pursue his presidential ambition, Papa Owusu-Ankomah resigned as minister and Prof. Dominic Fobih was appointed as the minister in 2007.
From the foregoing, it is clear that the education ministry since the colonial era has gone through a lot of metamorphosis so as to meet the needs of the time, among other things.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Directive is to ensure transparancy-GES Boss
Page
March 5, 2008
THE Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, says the service is ready for dialogue with parent-teacher associations (PTAs) on how to modify the decision of the GES on mainstreaming PTA levies into school accounts.
He also assured PTAs that the decision taken by the service was not to take over the running of the associations.
Rather, he said, the move was to ensure greater transparency in the operations of the associations in their scheme of things.
“We don’t intend taking over PTAs. We only want to ensure transparency,” he stated in an interview with the Daily Graphic.
According to him, the GES did not have any hidden agenda, adding that there was nothing for the PTAs to fear, since nothing would be hidden from them.
“There is no cause for alarm,” Mr Bannerman-Mensah assured the PTAs.
He said the GES was ready for dialogue with the PTAs and that if any of them had a good suggestion on how they could modify the GES decision, the service was ready for that.
“If they have a problem, they can come for us to talk. Our decision is about transparency,” he emphasised, adding, “We don’t mean any harm.”
Mr Bannerman-Mensah, who acknowledged the contributions of PTAs, said they had over the years contributed greatly to the development of schools.
Asked why the PTAs were not consulted before the directive was taken, he said, “It is not every decision that you take that you have to consult.”
On whether the GES directive would not lead to the breaching of the constitutions of PTAs, since the signatories to the accounts had been mandated to so, he said the PTAs would have to amend their constitutions.
“If the constitution is not serving the purpose, what do you do?” he asked.
A letter signed by the Mr Bannerman-Mensah had said, “All PTA levies and related expenditure should be captured in the financial statements of the institutions, even though separate cash books could be kept for easy tracking of data.”
It said since the PTA levy was being treated as a public fund, it should be operated in line with all existing financial regulations, such as passing of supplies through the stores.
“The head of the institution, with the support of his accountant, will provide the PTA with a situational report at its meetings. The signatories to the bank account for operating levies shall be the headmaster, the accountant and the PTA chairman as automatic member,” it stated.
March 5, 2008
THE Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, says the service is ready for dialogue with parent-teacher associations (PTAs) on how to modify the decision of the GES on mainstreaming PTA levies into school accounts.
He also assured PTAs that the decision taken by the service was not to take over the running of the associations.
Rather, he said, the move was to ensure greater transparency in the operations of the associations in their scheme of things.
“We don’t intend taking over PTAs. We only want to ensure transparency,” he stated in an interview with the Daily Graphic.
According to him, the GES did not have any hidden agenda, adding that there was nothing for the PTAs to fear, since nothing would be hidden from them.
“There is no cause for alarm,” Mr Bannerman-Mensah assured the PTAs.
He said the GES was ready for dialogue with the PTAs and that if any of them had a good suggestion on how they could modify the GES decision, the service was ready for that.
“If they have a problem, they can come for us to talk. Our decision is about transparency,” he emphasised, adding, “We don’t mean any harm.”
Mr Bannerman-Mensah, who acknowledged the contributions of PTAs, said they had over the years contributed greatly to the development of schools.
Asked why the PTAs were not consulted before the directive was taken, he said, “It is not every decision that you take that you have to consult.”
On whether the GES directive would not lead to the breaching of the constitutions of PTAs, since the signatories to the accounts had been mandated to so, he said the PTAs would have to amend their constitutions.
“If the constitution is not serving the purpose, what do you do?” he asked.
A letter signed by the Mr Bannerman-Mensah had said, “All PTA levies and related expenditure should be captured in the financial statements of the institutions, even though separate cash books could be kept for easy tracking of data.”
It said since the PTA levy was being treated as a public fund, it should be operated in line with all existing financial regulations, such as passing of supplies through the stores.
“The head of the institution, with the support of his accountant, will provide the PTA with a situational report at its meetings. The signatories to the bank account for operating levies shall be the headmaster, the accountant and the PTA chairman as automatic member,” it stated.
GIJ re-introduces entrance examinations
Page 17
March 5, 2008
THE Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) will, from next academic year, re-introduce the entrance examination as part of the requirements for admission to the institute.
This means that before applicants gained admission to the institute, they would be required to pass an entrance examination and an interview.
The acting Rector of GIJ, Mr Kweku Rockson, who disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said the entrance examination was to ensure that the institute got good materials for its programmes.
The institute cancelled the entrance examination in 2001 following complaints by some applicants that the selection process was not fair.
The institute has for about four years now stopped using entrance examinations as part of the requirements for admitting students to its programmes.
Mr Rockson said since the GIJ was put under the Ministry of Education Science and Sports (MOESS), there had been significant improvement in the running of the institute.
He said the conditions of service had been improved and so the institute now recruited full-time lecturers instead of depending on part-time lecturers who were hired as a result of poor conditions of service.
“Improved conditions of service had led to improved staffing conditions,” he said, adding that the institute was using the bulk of the funds to continue the development of a complex at Okponglo, comprising lecture theatres and an administration block.
Mr Rockson indicated that very soon, the institute would secure very good books for communications studies.
He said the institute had received assistance from MOESS and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
March 5, 2008
THE Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) will, from next academic year, re-introduce the entrance examination as part of the requirements for admission to the institute.
This means that before applicants gained admission to the institute, they would be required to pass an entrance examination and an interview.
The acting Rector of GIJ, Mr Kweku Rockson, who disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said the entrance examination was to ensure that the institute got good materials for its programmes.
The institute cancelled the entrance examination in 2001 following complaints by some applicants that the selection process was not fair.
The institute has for about four years now stopped using entrance examinations as part of the requirements for admitting students to its programmes.
Mr Rockson said since the GIJ was put under the Ministry of Education Science and Sports (MOESS), there had been significant improvement in the running of the institute.
He said the conditions of service had been improved and so the institute now recruited full-time lecturers instead of depending on part-time lecturers who were hired as a result of poor conditions of service.
“Improved conditions of service had led to improved staffing conditions,” he said, adding that the institute was using the bulk of the funds to continue the development of a complex at Okponglo, comprising lecture theatres and an administration block.
Mr Rockson indicated that very soon, the institute would secure very good books for communications studies.
He said the institute had received assistance from MOESS and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
44 Maths teachers trained
Page 17
March 5, 2008
A two-week workshop for 44 Mathematics teachers from the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) has ended at the Meagasa Mathematics Academy at Lashibi.
The participants were taken through the NVTI mathematics syllabus by the Founder and Executive Director of Meagasa Mathematics Academy, Prof Sitsofe E. Anku.
In his address at the closing ceremony, Prof Anku urged the participants to make students see the relationship between mathematics and real life.
He said they should make the teaching of the subject interesting and enjoyable to students, adding that they should also break the mental barrier that surrounded mathematics.
The Director of the NVTI, Mr S.B. Amponsah, congratulated the participants and urged them to go to their individual schools to impart the knowledge they had acquired.
He said the participants should not let the knowledge and certificates they had acquired keep them away from those who did not have the opportunity to attend the workshop; rather they should let their approach to the teaching of mathematics in the classroom be the determining factor.
He said many were those in the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) sub-sector who did not see their way clear as there had been major changes in such areas as articulation, course, content and testable subjects.
Mr Amponsah said the training was part of the changes that had taken place and indicated that with the changes, vocational trainees would spend four years in school instead of three years.
“The new direction calls for a review of curriculum and the active participation of the industry in the TVET delivery,” he said, adding that the NVTI was collaborating with the Danish Hairdressers and Beauticians Association and the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association to produce a syllabus for use by hairdressers and beauticians in the country.
Under the new arrangements, he said, on-the-job training was going to form an integral part of the training for all NVTIs, and that as a result of the industry’s inability to absorb all the trainees, there was a programme to train master craftsmen who would in turn absorb the trainees for training in the various trade areas.
The workshop prefect, Mr Kodzo Baku, said the workshop went beyond the mere training of instructors to the reawakening of the key behavioural factors enhancing teachers’ productivity and role in the drive for mathematics as an essential tool for development.
March 5, 2008
A two-week workshop for 44 Mathematics teachers from the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) has ended at the Meagasa Mathematics Academy at Lashibi.
The participants were taken through the NVTI mathematics syllabus by the Founder and Executive Director of Meagasa Mathematics Academy, Prof Sitsofe E. Anku.
In his address at the closing ceremony, Prof Anku urged the participants to make students see the relationship between mathematics and real life.
He said they should make the teaching of the subject interesting and enjoyable to students, adding that they should also break the mental barrier that surrounded mathematics.
The Director of the NVTI, Mr S.B. Amponsah, congratulated the participants and urged them to go to their individual schools to impart the knowledge they had acquired.
He said the participants should not let the knowledge and certificates they had acquired keep them away from those who did not have the opportunity to attend the workshop; rather they should let their approach to the teaching of mathematics in the classroom be the determining factor.
He said many were those in the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) sub-sector who did not see their way clear as there had been major changes in such areas as articulation, course, content and testable subjects.
Mr Amponsah said the training was part of the changes that had taken place and indicated that with the changes, vocational trainees would spend four years in school instead of three years.
“The new direction calls for a review of curriculum and the active participation of the industry in the TVET delivery,” he said, adding that the NVTI was collaborating with the Danish Hairdressers and Beauticians Association and the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association to produce a syllabus for use by hairdressers and beauticians in the country.
Under the new arrangements, he said, on-the-job training was going to form an integral part of the training for all NVTIs, and that as a result of the industry’s inability to absorb all the trainees, there was a programme to train master craftsmen who would in turn absorb the trainees for training in the various trade areas.
The workshop prefect, Mr Kodzo Baku, said the workshop went beyond the mere training of instructors to the reawakening of the key behavioural factors enhancing teachers’ productivity and role in the drive for mathematics as an essential tool for development.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Seminar on corporate social responsibility held
Page 38
March 3, 2008
THE Executive Director of Opportunities Industrialisation Centre International (OICI), Ghana, Dr Josiah Mills Cobbah, has called on companies and philanthropic institutions to monitor and evaluate their corporate social responsibility programmes to the society.
The move, he said, was to ensure that their programmes achieved their desired objectives.
Dr Cobbah made the call at the third corporate social responsibility seminar and business luncheon organised by the Opportunities Industrialisation Centre International, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in Accra.
The seminar, which was on the theme: “Doing Good and Stimulating Business in Ghana”, was to look at corporate social responsibility and its benefits to the company and community, share lessons learned from corporate organisations and provide networking opportunities with corporate leaders.
Dr Cobbah stressed the need for corporate social responsibility programmes to be incorporated into the vision, mission, business plans and budgets of companies and institutions.
“Companies should identify areas for their corporate social responsibility like health and water micro-finance and target groups like the youth and women. Companies need to commit to a focused, long-term planned corporate social responsibility programme,” he said.
He underscored the need for companies to measure the impact of their social responsibility programmes to ensure that they achieved their intended objectives, adding that “the commercial or business objectives of the company must ensure that investments made yield sustainable returns appreciated by all constituents”.
Dr Cobbah mentioned some of the benefits of corporate social responsibility as positive social investment and change, maximising business profit, heightened reputation and image in the eyes of the public and employees, as well as improved company reputation and risk management.
Giving an overview of corporate social responsibility practices in the country, he said most companies were focused solely on population or profit goals and targeted with limited, unplanned corporate philanthropy as and when the need arose.
He said some companies had moved to corporate social marketing and had created foundations, while others had moved further to socially responsible business, adding that overall, corporate social responsibility practice, except for big multi-national companies in the country, was limited and poor.
The Country Representative of OICI, Ms Carla Dominique Denizard, said the NGO could help design and co-implement social responsibility programmes and ensure that the benefits intended for such programmes were achieved.
She said it also monitored and evaluated the impacts of programmes to make sure they achieved the intended benefits and also assisted in showcasing the social good that companies did with clients, employees and the public.
“We are helping companies design and implement sustainable programmes. We are helping them achieve both sustainable development and meet corporate social responsibility needs,” she said.
Ms Denizard said the vision of OICI was to become the premier NGO helping the poor and disadvantaged in the country through the design and implementation of integrated community development and skills training programme.
March 3, 2008
THE Executive Director of Opportunities Industrialisation Centre International (OICI), Ghana, Dr Josiah Mills Cobbah, has called on companies and philanthropic institutions to monitor and evaluate their corporate social responsibility programmes to the society.
The move, he said, was to ensure that their programmes achieved their desired objectives.
Dr Cobbah made the call at the third corporate social responsibility seminar and business luncheon organised by the Opportunities Industrialisation Centre International, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in Accra.
The seminar, which was on the theme: “Doing Good and Stimulating Business in Ghana”, was to look at corporate social responsibility and its benefits to the company and community, share lessons learned from corporate organisations and provide networking opportunities with corporate leaders.
Dr Cobbah stressed the need for corporate social responsibility programmes to be incorporated into the vision, mission, business plans and budgets of companies and institutions.
“Companies should identify areas for their corporate social responsibility like health and water micro-finance and target groups like the youth and women. Companies need to commit to a focused, long-term planned corporate social responsibility programme,” he said.
He underscored the need for companies to measure the impact of their social responsibility programmes to ensure that they achieved their intended objectives, adding that “the commercial or business objectives of the company must ensure that investments made yield sustainable returns appreciated by all constituents”.
Dr Cobbah mentioned some of the benefits of corporate social responsibility as positive social investment and change, maximising business profit, heightened reputation and image in the eyes of the public and employees, as well as improved company reputation and risk management.
Giving an overview of corporate social responsibility practices in the country, he said most companies were focused solely on population or profit goals and targeted with limited, unplanned corporate philanthropy as and when the need arose.
He said some companies had moved to corporate social marketing and had created foundations, while others had moved further to socially responsible business, adding that overall, corporate social responsibility practice, except for big multi-national companies in the country, was limited and poor.
The Country Representative of OICI, Ms Carla Dominique Denizard, said the NGO could help design and co-implement social responsibility programmes and ensure that the benefits intended for such programmes were achieved.
She said it also monitored and evaluated the impacts of programmes to make sure they achieved the intended benefits and also assisted in showcasing the social good that companies did with clients, employees and the public.
“We are helping companies design and implement sustainable programmes. We are helping them achieve both sustainable development and meet corporate social responsibility needs,” she said.
Ms Denizard said the vision of OICI was to become the premier NGO helping the poor and disadvantaged in the country through the design and implementation of integrated community development and skills training programme.
Senya Beraku faces water shortage
Page 47
Date: March 3, 2008
COMMERCIAL and educational activities are grinding to a halt in the Central Regional town of Senya Bereku following an acute water shortage that has hit the area.
The situation has affected health services and resulted in empty classrooms among other things.
Scores of students, teachers and other residents spend hours walking long distances in search of water for household chores.
According to a resident, Mr Anthony Apraku, the situation, which had persisted for about two years now, had reached its zenith, thereby crippling economic and educational activities.
“A bucket of water is sold for 25 Gp. Even with the 25 Gp, it is very difficult getting water to buy,” he said, adding that “the government would have to come to our aid now before something else happens”.
A pensioner, Mr Jasper Bonney, said only those who had tanks or reservoirs bought water from operators of water tankers, adding that for the majority of those who did not have such facilities, they had to search for water every day.
A student of the Senya Senior High School, Emmanuel Kwesi, said he went to school late as a result of the fruitless search for water.
“The situation is terrible and something would have to be done now. We need water urgently to survive,” he said.
The Chairman of the Senya Urban Council, Mr Kwame Onasis Anderson, told the Daily Graphic that the council had made efforts to get water.
“I have just queued for four hours to buy a bucket of water for 25 Gp,” he lamented, and said “master we are suffering in this town”.
He said although the Member Parliament for the area, Mr Oppey Abbey, had raised the water issue on the floor of the House, nothing had been done.
As a temporary measure, he said, water could be distributed at cheaper rates through tankers, since most people in the town could not afford to the 25 Gp for a bucket of water.
Mr Anderson said some teachers and nurses had threatened to request for a transfer if the council did not expedite action about the issue.
Date: March 3, 2008
COMMERCIAL and educational activities are grinding to a halt in the Central Regional town of Senya Bereku following an acute water shortage that has hit the area.
The situation has affected health services and resulted in empty classrooms among other things.
Scores of students, teachers and other residents spend hours walking long distances in search of water for household chores.
According to a resident, Mr Anthony Apraku, the situation, which had persisted for about two years now, had reached its zenith, thereby crippling economic and educational activities.
“A bucket of water is sold for 25 Gp. Even with the 25 Gp, it is very difficult getting water to buy,” he said, adding that “the government would have to come to our aid now before something else happens”.
A pensioner, Mr Jasper Bonney, said only those who had tanks or reservoirs bought water from operators of water tankers, adding that for the majority of those who did not have such facilities, they had to search for water every day.
A student of the Senya Senior High School, Emmanuel Kwesi, said he went to school late as a result of the fruitless search for water.
“The situation is terrible and something would have to be done now. We need water urgently to survive,” he said.
The Chairman of the Senya Urban Council, Mr Kwame Onasis Anderson, told the Daily Graphic that the council had made efforts to get water.
“I have just queued for four hours to buy a bucket of water for 25 Gp,” he lamented, and said “master we are suffering in this town”.
He said although the Member Parliament for the area, Mr Oppey Abbey, had raised the water issue on the floor of the House, nothing had been done.
As a temporary measure, he said, water could be distributed at cheaper rates through tankers, since most people in the town could not afford to the 25 Gp for a bucket of water.
Mr Anderson said some teachers and nurses had threatened to request for a transfer if the council did not expedite action about the issue.
PTAs object to GES decision
Page 20
March 3, 2008
THE coalition of parent-teacher associations in the Greater Accra Region has objected to the decision of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to mainstream all PTA levies into school accounts.
“The directive to incorporate PTA funds, which are private financial resources, into public school finances violates the Financial Administration Act 2003, Act 654, and is a recipe for advancing corruption among school authorities,” it said.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, the acting Chairman of the coalition, Mr Alexander Y. Danso, said the PTAs were guided by their respective constitutions that stipulated officers and signatories to their accounts, as well as committees and sub-committees that supervised the implementation of projects.
He said the attempt to override the constitutions of the various PTAs and usurp their accounts by administrative fiat ran counter to the basic tenets of democracy, good governance and due process.
“Again, it goes against the rule of law for a public office holder to attempt to subvert the rights and aspirations of citizens in associations,” he said, and indicated that there was nowhere in the country’s Constitution that it had been stated that a public office holder was empowered to order the take-over of private financial resources by the stroke of a pen.
Mr Danso said if the GES wanted any formal interest in PTA funds, it could do that only by mutual consultation and urged all banks to observe strict professionalism in upholding the dictates of PTA constitutions concerning the signatories.
He appealed to PTAs nation-wide to exercise restraint, hoping that the GES would see reason and do the right thing for normalcy to be restored.
A letter signed by the Director-General of the GES, Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, said, “All PTA levies and related expenditure should be captured in the financial statements of the institutions, even though separate cash books could be kept for easy tracking of data.”
It said since the PTA levy was being treated as a public fund, it should be operated in line with all existing financial regulations, such as passing of supplies through the stores.
“The head of the institution, with the support of his accountant, will provide the PTA with a situational report at its meetings. The signatories to the bank account for operating levies shall be the headmaster, the accountant and the PTA chairman as automatic member,” it stated.
March 3, 2008
THE coalition of parent-teacher associations in the Greater Accra Region has objected to the decision of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to mainstream all PTA levies into school accounts.
“The directive to incorporate PTA funds, which are private financial resources, into public school finances violates the Financial Administration Act 2003, Act 654, and is a recipe for advancing corruption among school authorities,” it said.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, the acting Chairman of the coalition, Mr Alexander Y. Danso, said the PTAs were guided by their respective constitutions that stipulated officers and signatories to their accounts, as well as committees and sub-committees that supervised the implementation of projects.
He said the attempt to override the constitutions of the various PTAs and usurp their accounts by administrative fiat ran counter to the basic tenets of democracy, good governance and due process.
“Again, it goes against the rule of law for a public office holder to attempt to subvert the rights and aspirations of citizens in associations,” he said, and indicated that there was nowhere in the country’s Constitution that it had been stated that a public office holder was empowered to order the take-over of private financial resources by the stroke of a pen.
Mr Danso said if the GES wanted any formal interest in PTA funds, it could do that only by mutual consultation and urged all banks to observe strict professionalism in upholding the dictates of PTA constitutions concerning the signatories.
He appealed to PTAs nation-wide to exercise restraint, hoping that the GES would see reason and do the right thing for normalcy to be restored.
A letter signed by the Director-General of the GES, Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, said, “All PTA levies and related expenditure should be captured in the financial statements of the institutions, even though separate cash books could be kept for easy tracking of data.”
It said since the PTA levy was being treated as a public fund, it should be operated in line with all existing financial regulations, such as passing of supplies through the stores.
“The head of the institution, with the support of his accountant, will provide the PTA with a situational report at its meetings. The signatories to the bank account for operating levies shall be the headmaster, the accountant and the PTA chairman as automatic member,” it stated.
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