The Ghana Education Service (GES) has condemned the decision by some parents of pupils of the Achimota Preparatory to besiege the school’s premises to protest the locking up of the school by GES officials.
Last Friday, officials of the GES in the Okaikwei North District locked up offices and classrooms of the Achimota Preparatory School, following a court order received by the service to take over the management of the school.
Speaking to Citi News, the Greater Accra Regional PRO of the GES, Peter Abledu Golden said the parents’ protest was in contempt of court.
“We came out with a court order and the writ of possession was filed to that effect and that is what was executed on Friday. This morning, the children were supposed to be in school for teaching and learning to take place. I was here to see how the learning was going, only to see parents in disagreement with the action. I have listened to their concerns but what they are doing is in contempt of court. We are in an era where, when you are even aggrieved, you will have to follow a channel. The engagement is still going on. We will engage them and there will be peace here.”
Meanwhile, the Tesano Divisional Police Commander, ACP Oduro Amanning, has implored the disgruntled parents to vacate the school premises and resort to dialogue with the various stakeholders in resolving the matter.
“I have listened to their concerns. They should go back home, keep cool and see what will come out of the situation. Definitely, something better will come out of the situation.”
The court’s order was given on March 2020, according to a statement from the GES.
The Service explained that the land and building being occupied by the Achimota Preparatory School formed part of Achimota School Land per the Achimota School Ordinance No. 7 & 1948.
The preparatory school was established during the colonial era and for the children of some expatriates, staff of Achimota School and the University College of the Gold Coast.
Over time, the expatriates left the management of the school in the hands of locals who, from time to time, form a management committee to run the school as a private institution.
APS has been operating that model to date.
GES explained that “sometime in the 1960s, Achimota School granted a lease to APS to allow it to operate from the premises, which expired in 1970.”
In January 2020, amid the contentions, the Parent-Teacher Association of the Achimota Preparatory School said it would resist attempts by the GES to take over the school.
It has also accused the GES of acting in bad faith in the matter.