Teacher Kwadwo Dismissed from GES Over Alleged Professional Misconduct
HENRY GERCHI
Accra, July 2025 – The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially terminated the appointment of Mr. Michael Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Teacher Kwadwo, over what it describes as serious professional and ethical misconduct during the 2021 academic year.
According to a letter signed by Anthony Boateng, Deputy Director-General of GES, and circulated to relevant education authorities, a disciplinary review conducted by the Akrofuom District Disciplinary Committee found Mr. Afriyie guilty of multiple infractions while serving as a P4 teacher at Akrofuom D/A Primary School in the Ashanti Region.
Key Findings from the Disciplinary Report:
- Chronic Absenteeism: Mr. Afriyie was found to have absented himself from school for a total of 55 days without permission during the 2021 academic year.
- Refusal to Prepare Lesson Plans: The teacher consistently refused to prepare or submit lesson notes, despite directives from both his Headteacher and the District Director.
- Insubordination: The report highlights multiple instances of insubordination, including failure to respond to official queries and refusal to appear before a disciplinary panel constituted by the District Director.
The GES management concluded that the misconduct was “serious enough and very unprofessional and unethical,” and therefore rejected the initial recommendation from the district committee that Mr. Afriyie be reassigned.
However, management acknowledged Teacher Kwadwo’s positive contributions to the school, such as painting school buildings, donating computers and television sets, and providing uniforms for students. Despite this, GES upheld the decision to terminate his appointment.
Due to the current non-existence of the GES Council, which is required to finalize termination decisions, the letter states that Mr. Afriyie must stay away from all GES duties until the council is reconstituted and a final decision is confirmed.
Additional Personnel Reassignments:
- Mr. Timothy K-Ayombil, a school head in the district, was deemed incompetent to lead a school and is to be reassigned to classroom teaching duties.
- Mr. Edward Yamoah, a School Improvement Support Officer (SISO), is also to be reposted as a classroom teacher in another district.
The decision has drawn public attention due to Teacher Kwadwo’s significant online following and his outspoken views on educational reform. His dismissal has sparked mixed reactions, with supporters calling it unfair and others defending the GES’s enforcement of professional standards.
