Professor Opanin Kofi Agyekum, UG lecturer
Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Opanin Kofi Agyekum, has expressed concern over the increasing dismissal of public officials, warning that the trend is creating national tension and uncertainty.
According to the former Acting Dean of the School of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana, the widespread dismissals are unsettling citizens and raising fears about job security.
“What worries me is the growing tension in the country, not about food or basic needs, but the dismissal of public officials. Every day, we hear about the removal of prominent figures,” he lamented.
He likened the situation to a coup d’état, where officials are removed from their positions without clear justification.
Referring to the recent dismissal of Professor Yayra Dzakadzie as Director-General of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) and Samuel Kobina Annim as Government Statistician, Professor Agyekum stated that such abrupt removals contribute to instability.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo on May 8, 2025, he emphasised the need for a more structured approach to handling such situations.
“I heard about one particular case, the head of NaCCA. I learned he was appointed around June 2024, and now he has been asked to step down. The Government Statistician has also been dismissed, along with several others. It feels like a coup is happening, with people being sacked indiscriminately. When this happens, people begin to worry, questioning whether they will be next.”
Professor Agyekum urged authorities to adopt a more transparent and fair approach to addressing such dismissals, stressing that while misconduct should not be tolerated, arbitrary removals only fuel uncertainty.
AM/KA
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