Executive Director for the Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch), Kofi Asare, has called for an independent investigation to be conducted on statements issued by the Education Ministry and Ghana Education Service over an alleged training of 40,000 teachers under the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP).

Mr Asare revealed that the minister’s press statement to clarify matters on the issue only explains the ministry’s side of a “contentious issue” and does not necessarily address the issue of disclaimer put forth by the GES Director-General. He indicated that the press conference held by the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, is merely the side of the ministry in respect of the disclaimer by the GES.

“It is only an independent body which has no interest in the subject matter, which has no entrenched position, that can verify whether or not what the ministry is saying is indeed factual or what the GES is saying is factual. Not that the two agencies are supposed to work together like twin; one is the principal and the other is the agency. In the implementing wing of the ministry of education is the GES at the pre-tertiary sector.”
Kofi Asare

Mr Asare explained that the two institutions must be seen speaking in unison because when one is speaking a different language from the other, it raises questions in respect of the varying account of policy implementation. This, he noted, is the reason why a “neutral body is required to verify more or less the claim of the GES within the context of the submission” of the ministry of education in order to put the matter to rest.

GES and MoE must work together

The Eduwatch Executive Director described as “unfortunate” the different statements churned out by the two bodies who are supposed to be seen working collaboratively. Justifying his stance, he revealed that the ministry’s job is to formulate policies and coordinate the implementation of same, whereas the GES’ job is to implement policies. By implication, Mr Asare emphasized that “they are supposed to work in tandem”.

“… Then, the least one would expect will be for the GES to be making pronouncements totally in variance with what the ministry is saying. Moreso, when the pronouncement is in respect of the implementation of an activity expected to benefit staff of the GES. So, if the GES being employer, is totally ignorant of a claim by the ministry that certain training has been administered to its staff, then it leaves much to be desired…”
Kofi Asare

It will be recalled that on May 26, 2022, the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, was accused for alleged phantom training scheme of teachers, costing $1.2 million from the World Bank. The World Bank, as part of its investigations to establish the training of the teachers as claimed by the Education Ministry, officially wrote to the Director-General of GES to confirm the said training.

In a letter signed by the Director-General of the GES, Prof Opoku-Amankwa, he indicated that he is “unaware that any such training has taken place”. Prof Opoku-Amankwa, expressed that he is unaware of the training of over 40,000 teachers on the digital literacy platform under the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP).

The Director-General of GES further indicated that “GES is unaware of reports and correspondence between the Education Ministry and the World Bank, and is unable to make an informed response to the Bank’s request”.