Vice-President Opoku-Agyemang Urges Leadership Excellence in Schools as GTEC Mandates Political Neutrality for Tertiary Heads

Vice-President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for a renewed focus on effective leadership within Ghana’s basic education sector to ensure that government interventions translate into improved learning outcomes. Speaking at the 5th Quadrennial National Conference of the Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS) in Koforidua, the Vice-President emphasized that strong school management is the cornerstone of quality education. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bridging the digital divide through enhanced ICT resources and digital literacy programs. The conference also served as a platform for COHBS President Nicholas Nii Kpakpoe Addo and Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Clement Apaak to discuss critical issues, including the disparity in teacher postings and the need for timely provision of educational supplies to schools across the country.

In a significant move toward institutional integrity, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has issued a directive mandating that public officers in tertiary institutions, including Vice-Chancellors and Registrars, must relinquish any active roles within political parties. GTEC warned that holding dual roles in public service and political party leadership undermines the neutrality and professionalism required of educational administrators. This directive aligns with the Political Parties Act and seeks to insulate academic governance from partisan influence, ensuring that the management of higher education remains focused on academic excellence and objective administration.

The theme of leadership and discipline was further echoed during the 60th-anniversary celebrations of the Anglican Senior High School (KASS) in Kumasi. Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, alongside the Archbishop of the CPWA, Most Rev. Dr. Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, and former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, urged students to uphold a culture of discipline to sustain the school's legacy. The event, themed around empowering future leaders, emphasized the integration of technology and innovation in modern education. The school also used the milestone to raise funds for a new teaching staff project, reflecting a broader national effort to improve teacher welfare and infrastructure.

Historic milestones in student governance and academic competition were also recorded this week. Ms. Mumuni Nihad, a Level 200 Bachelor of Education student, became the first female Students’ Representative Council (SRC) President of the Akatsi College of Education after a landmark election. Pledging to prioritize student welfare and facility refurbishment, her victory is being hailed as a major step for women’s leadership in the college sector. Simultaneously, Mansen Senior High School achieved a historic feat by qualifying for the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) for the first time. By narrowly defeating Istiqaama SHS in the Bono Regional qualifiers, the school has positioned itself to compete against established academic powerhouses on the national stage, signaling a growing competitiveness among less-heralded institutions in Ghana.