AUGUSCO Board wants headmaster’s interdiction reversed

The Board of Governors of St Augustine’s College, Cape Coast, has asked the Ghana Education Service (GES) to reverse its decision to interdict Mr Joseph Connel, the headmaster in the interest of natural justice.

A letter dated October 17, 2016 which was signed by the Board Chairman Rev. Fr. John Manso Hamilton and addressed to the Director General of the GES, observed that Mr. Connelly’s interdiction for allegedly charging unapproved fees, was flawed in many ways.

St Augustine’s College is said to be charging each fresh student the sum of GH¢435 as parent-teacher association (PTA) levy, a charge the Ministry of Education and the GES have labeled ‘illegal’. 

However the Board says an emergency meeting held on the matter on Monday, October 17, to which the Headmaster and Accountant were invited, concluded that there were many flaws in the process that led to the headmaster’s interdiction.

It says flaws were detected in the following;

• Procedure for the interdiction
• Date and time of investigation
• Date of the interdiction letter
• Breach of Natural Justice 
• The Regional Director of Education not attending the emergency meeting on the subject but rather choosing to solely nominate someone to represent the Board of Governors in an investigative committee.

The letter concluded that “In view of the above, the Board of Governors having considered the issues mentioned Supra, is of the opinion that the interdiction of the Headmaster of St Augustine’s College was done in a rush and not premised on needed investigation and natural justice, and request that it should be reversed.”