By Yussif Ibrahim/Charles Tawiah, GNA
Akropong (Ash), May 16, GNA – The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and Old Students’ Association of Osei Tutu Senior High School have issued a one-month ultimatum demanding the transfer of Reverend Bright Osei Yaw, Headmaster of the school.
In a declaration signed by Mr. Joseph Abebrese, Vice Chairman of the PTA, Obrempong Professor Kenneth Frimpong, Global President of the Old Students’ Association, and their respective secretaries, the groups said they would not tolerate what they described as “administrative silence” and “procedural obstruction” capable of plunging the school into chaos and endangering the safety of students.
According to the statement, concerns over student indiscipline, insecurity on campus and alleged lack of accountability by the Headmaster and his administrative team informed their decision.
Speaking on the matter, Mr. Abebrese alleged that the Headmaster failed to involve the police during four days of violent student disturbances involving the use of cutlasses and clubs.
He further accused the school authorities of allowing the operation of student gangs and Indian hemp (“wee”) joints on campus, while also alleging financial mismanagement involving parents’ voluntary contributions.
Mr. Abebrese also alleged that the Senior Housemaster at one point brandished a firearm on campus during an altercation with a colleague.
He claimed that student groups identified as Kumasi, Sunyani and Obuasi gangs had been formed within the school and were engaging in violent activities rather than supporting one another academically and socially.
According to him, the activities of the groups contributed to a violent clash between some youth of Akropong-Esaase and students of the school about two weeks ago.
He said the incident led to severe injuries to Isaac Boateng, a tricycle rider who was reportedly passing in front of the school’s main gate at the time of the clash and was currently receiving treatment for a spinal cord injury at the Akropong Government Hospital.
Mr. Abebrese further alleged that during a meeting with the Headmaster, he admitted collecting between GHC300 and GHC600 from some parents for the purchase of 60 beds instead of the 100 initially promised.
He claimed receipts were not issued for the payments and that no proper accounting had been rendered to parents, contrary to the regulations of the Ghana Education Service.
The PTA Vice Chairman also stated that repeated requests by the PTA executives for the release of the full PTA contact list to create an official communication platform had been rejected by the Headmaster, who instead allegedly created a separate platform with selected parents.
“Additionally, the Headmaster requested for GHC17,000 from the PTA to solve an emergency problem of the students but failed to account for it or update the association about the issue and all efforts to get him accounted for or refund the money proved futile,” he stated.
Mr. Abebrese said the PTA and Old Students’ Association had submitted their investigative reports to the Director-General and Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service, the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana and other relevant stakeholders.
At the time of filing this report, Reverend Bright Osei Yaw was said to be attending a board meeting and was therefore unavailable to respond to the allegations.
When contacted by the GNA to respond to the numerous allegations levelled against him by the PTA and old students of the school, Reverend Bright Osei Yaw, Headmaster of the school, declined to comment on the matter.
He explained that he had already submitted his responses to the school’s board regarding the issues raised and had been directed not to make any public statements on the matter pending further deliberations.
Reverend Osei Yaw, however, assured that the appropriate authorities were handling the concerns raised and would address them through the laid down procedures.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporters: Yussif Ibrahim/Charles Tawiah
[email protected]