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I’m for criticism of the President, not insults – Gyampo on sacking of SHS students

Asare Michael Baarffour (Devarsh) 4 years ago

Although there are several issues in the country that warrant criticism of the government, these issues do not warrant insulting the President, according to Ransford Gyampo, a Professor at the University of Ghana.

On Saturday, January 14, he said on Key Points on TV3, “I am for criticisms but not insults, you can’t insult the president like that.”

He also praised the president for acting on the call to intervene in the dismissal of the students who had insulted him.

“The President should also listen to other important issues on which Ghanaians have made critical calls,” he added.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo intervened in the punishment meted out to eight Chiana Senior High School girls.

President Akufo-Addo intervened after his attention was drawn to it.

According to a press release issued by the Minister of Education’s Spokesperson, Kwasi Kwarteng, on Friday, January 13, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to consider alternative disciplinary action instead of dismissal.

The eight girls were fired following an investigation into a video they made in November 2022 in which they hurled expletives at the President.

Following the investigation, the Service decided to expel the eight girls from the school.

Since the decision was communicated to the parents, opinions on the punishment have been divided.

Some parents have condemned their children’s actions, while the children themselves have apologized to the President in another video.

However, a large majority of MPs, including the minority, called for the GES decision to be reversed.

The GES has referred Mr Akufo-intervention Addo’s to the school’s Disciplinary Committee (DC) for action.

According to the Service, the punishment meted out to the students was based on the Committee’s recommendation.

“As a result, Management has referred the matter to the school’s Disciplinary Committee to explore alternative sanctions other than dismissal,” said Cassandra Twum Ampofo, GES’s Head of Public Relations, in a statement issued on Friday, January 13.