The Chairman of the Parents-Teachers’ Association (PTA) of Nkwanta Community Secondary Technical School, Michael Nayo, has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other relevant authorities to reconsider the suspension of Solomon Sarpong Bagmae, the headmaster of Nkwanta Senior High School.
Mr. Bagmae was suspended on Friday, August 8, after he publicly appealed for food assistance for candidates sitting the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) without obtaining prior approval from the appropriate supervisory bodies. His appeal came in the wake of unrest in the Nkwanta area, which had forced the students to remain on campus under challenging conditions.
Explaining the background to the incident, Mr. Nayo revealed that PTA chairpersons from all three senior high schools in the district had collectively agreed to solicit contributions from parents — GH¢300 per candidate — to provide meals for the students. The decision, he said, was made to ensure that the WASSCE candidates were well-fed and able to concentrate on their exams despite the disruptions.
Fortunately, food supplies from the government were later delivered to the schools, making the contributions unnecessary. The money collected was promptly refunded to parents.
Mr. Nayo emphasised that Mr. Bagmae’s actions were not driven by personal interest but by a genuine concern for the welfare of his students. According to him, the public appeal was an urgent measure taken to safeguard the candidates’ well-being during a critical academic period.
“The headmaster acted out of humanitarian concern. His only priority was to ensure that these young candidates had enough to eat so they could focus on their exams,” Mr. Nayo said.
He appealed to the GES to take into account the compassionate motives behind the headmaster’s actions and to show clemency. Lifting the suspension, he argued, would help restore harmony between the school administration and the community, while reaffirming the shared commitment to protecting the welfare and academic success of students.
