Prior to the implementation of the free SHS policy, government set up a 22-member committee in March 2017, to make recommendations on the way forward for the programme.

“I have done a lot of work for the Ministry of Education, I haven’t taken a pesewa, they are aware. This free SHS [policy] I was on two committees – I attended all the meetings and made valuable contributions, but I did not take a pesewa and I will not take a pesewa. But anyway I will take it like that,” he said.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4TckHfTgHyBi30udIcLF4xCaXb45ml5x”]Mr. Salamat made this revelation following his transfer which he considers unfair.

He was transferred from LA Presec as Headmater for making an appeal to parents of beneficiaries of the free SHS policy to pay GHc80 for the procurement of plastic chairs for their wards since the school lacked such facilities.

But his action incurred the wrath of the government, because the move was allegedly seen as a sabotage of the policy.

Speaking for the first time after his transfer on the Citi Breakfast Show today (Thursday), Mr. Salamat said his transfer was unfortunate because government did not seek his side of the story in spite of his relationship with them.

“It is unfortunate that in spite of the relationship I have with the Ministry of Education, they could not invite me and find my side of the story. I feel very hurt, very hurt.”

Mr. Salamat also believes his transfer was engineered by his haters who are occupying some vantage positions in government.

“I believe that somebody over there is using the official means to settle a score with me and the person can go on. The person knows himself or herself. The person can go on because I am very surprised about the turn of events,” he added.

Citi News gathered that Mr. Salamat, was transferred to the Curriculum Research of Development Division (CRDD) at the Headquarters of the Ghana Education Service (G.E.S) in Accra from La PRESEC last week.

Initial reports said the transfer was because he had opened up to the media about the challenges of the school.

However, the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, said that the transfer was because he charged parents “illegal fees” contrary to government’s instruction.

“If you are charging fees you want parents to pay, of course not, it’s not approved. We’ve given you resources and you have development levy which is contributions that were supposed to be made by parents. If you need anything, you can use part of the development levy to do that. Why do you have to go to the parents and ask them to pay something that the government has already paid? Nobody condones any behaviour or whatsoever that will punish any headmaster for talking to the media,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post I wasn’t paid a pesewa for services on free SHS c’ttee – Salamat appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Salamat has been transferred to the head office of the Ghana Education Service for asking parents to pay GHc80 to procure plastic chairs for first year students, who had benefited from government’s free Senior High School education policy.

[contextly_sidebar id=”1Aq3pA0T36HK04f8Gyf57zu93gSMzdiO”]Earlier reports suggested that, he was transferred because his action was seen as sabotage of government’s much-hyped free SHS education policy, and for speaking to the media about the school’s challenges.

But clarifying the issue on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, a Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum explained that Mr. Salamat was transferred not because he spoke to the media.

He said, “If you are charging fees you want parents to pay, of course not, it’s not approved. We’ve given you resources and you have development levy which is contributions that were supposed to be made by parents. If you need anything, you can use part of the development levy to do that. Why do you have to go to the parents and ask them to pay something that the government has already paid? Nobody condones any behaviour or whatsoever that will punish any headmaster for talking to the media,” he added.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the incoming President of NAGRAT, Angel Carbonu, argued that such transfers will make headteachers numb.

“What is going to happen is that, a lot of head teachers will be numbed and they will sit on the fence. They will not talk to anyone, they will not expose their problems and challenges to anyone, they will not get help, and at the end of the day, it is our boys and girls whom we have sent to school that will be suffering. If Mr. Salamat has been transferred because of the exposé at La PRESEC we are very unhappy about that, and want that transfer reversed,” Mr. Carbonu said.

Mr. Salamat had earlier been interdicted together with 18 other headmasters of second cycle schools nationwide for charging unapproved fees during the initial stages of the free SHS policy in September 2017.

Mr. Carbonu said such actions are not good for the running of government owned educational institutions the country.

“You will realize that because of the announcement that 19 head teachers have been interdicted, all heads of schools, I can assure you, have gone into the state of comatose…and that when you go there to find out about normal issues, they would not want to talk else they are transferred or victimized. If we push education to that level, we are all going to suffer for it,” he added.

Plight of La PRESEC students

The La PRESEC school was recently in the news for allegedly levying fresh students about GHs 80 to purchase plastic chairs to be used by the students due to the deplorable state of the existing ones.

The action generated public criticism with many accusing the headmaster, Samuel Salamat, of sabotaging the government’s Free SHS policy, but when Citi News visited the school, the situation was indeed dire.

Students spent the day seated on cement blocks and wooden boards due to the non-existence of desks in the school.

The situation, which was highlighted by the Citi News’ Anass Seidu attracted the CEO of McDan Shipping Company, Daniel Makorley, to donate 100 desks as a first tranche of donations to improve the school’s learning infrastructure.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Reverse La PRESEC headmaster’s transfer – NAGRAT appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The headmaster of the school, Samuel Salamat, is said to have been transferred to the Curriculum Research of Development Division (CRDD) at the Headquarters of the Ghana Education Service (G.E.S) in Accra.

[contextly_sidebar id=”BFgSB04x24E6MtrIF6BvxyznFfdqPGDA”]The transfer, an apparent punishment to Mr. Salamat, followed a stern warning issued to him by the Ministry of Education not to reveal challenges the school was being confronted with to the media.

Citi News in September 2017, reported that effective teaching and learning was being hampered at the La Presby Senior High School, as beneficiaries of government’s Free Senior High School program were forced to study in uncompleted buildings without marker boards and desks.

Students spent the day seated on cement blocks and wooden boards, due to the absence of desks in the school.

The situation, which was highlighted by the Citi News’ Anass Seidu attracted the CEO of McDan Shipping Company, Daniel Makorley, to donate 100 desks as a first tranche of donations to improve the school’s  infrastructure.

Ahead of the donation, the headmaster of the school lamented that the donation was going to see him being reprimanded by the Ministry.

GH¢80 levy

The school was recently in the news for allegedly levying fresh students about GHs 80, to purchase plastic chairs to be used by the students due to the deplorable state of the existing ones.

The action generated public criticism with many accusing the headmaster, Samuel Salamat, of sabotaging the government’s Free SHS policy, but when Citi News visited the school on Monday morning, the situation was indeed dire.

The Headmaster, Samuel Salamat, was subsequently invited by Ministry of Education to explain circumstances that led to him demanding the levy from parents.

He however continued to serve as the Headmaster of the school until he was transferred for allowing the media to cover issues in the school.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GES ‘removes’ La PRESEC headmaster appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Christopher Forsythe,  described as a licensed agent of football’s governing body, FIFA and Obed Nketiah, also described as an official of a Ghanaian football club respectively, were reportedly taken into custody days after a report was filed with the police by the GFA.

The pair have since been granted bail while their statements are taken and have had travel restrictions placed on them to aid in investigations.

The Daily Telegraph, on June 22 released a video which it claimed showed the president of the GFA, Kwesi Nyantakyi, agreeing to to fix matches involving the Ghana national team.

The GFA issued a statement debunking the allegations, stating that the contract was not signed by its officials and no request to fix matches was ever made to them, adding that the matter had been reported to the Ghana Police, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Speaking to Citi News, the Public Relations Officer of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service,  ASP Joseph Darkwah, confirmed that Mr. Forsythe and Mr. Nketiah had been taken into custody as part of their investigations into the allegations.

He revealed that the two were expected to report to the police station on Thursday for further questioning.

He, however, insisted that no charges had, as yet, been brought against the two and until the investigations had been completed, “they are just suspects.”

ASP Darkwah added that the “suspects were cooperating” with the police and “until there was enough evidence against them” no charges would be brought against them.

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Two implicated in GFA match-fixing scandal arrested appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.