The New Patriotic Party has described as “reprehensible†the actions of its Greater Accra Regional Organiser Archibald Cobbinah, who stormed the premises of the Ghana Education Service in the company of some party executives to express reservations about the computer placement system.
Mr. Cobbinah, who is also Regional Head of NADMO, had gone to the premises to be given preferential treatment in the placement exercise.
The system, happening at the time of the Free Senior High School policy rollout, has, once again, generated controversy with parents complaining about their children being placed at schools they did not pick.
The confusion resulted in an emergency meeting led by Professor Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, and attended by senior headmasters and mistresses, some of whom have been accused of extorting money from parents, despite directive from government not to do so.
The party activist had gone there demanding he be given audience because some children of some party members from the region had been sidelined in the placement program.
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But security officials around had to intervene following the intervention of the minister.
His action has however been condemned by National Youth Organizer, Sammy Awuku, who said what his compatriot did was not only condemnable but “reprehensible.â€
“If you are a party official and you don’t see anything good, you can use the right channel in addressing your concern,†he added.
He however said the incident is regrettable but will not undermine the success of the policy.
Mr. Cobbinah has however apologized but denied “storming†the GES premises as was reported. He said he had gone as a 'Ghanaian" to complain about challenges with the exercise.
“I didn’t storm the ministry, I didn’t storm there with party executives…I went there with Ghanaians to do a couple of things,†he said. “I met regional executives of the party who have issueS and I had to try and listen to all of them and see what can be done.â€
He accepted his actions were unfortunate and regrettable and apologized for it.
In a related development, two school heads have been dismissed for extorting money from fresh students, contrary to warning offenders would be punished.