Teachers Silent Over Free SHS Ills Because Of Fear Of Victimization

Outspoken Professor of Political Science at the University of Ghana, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, has adlibbed the lament of business mogul, Dr. Sam Jonah, that the culture of silence has crept back into Ghana, citing ongoing gagging culture in schools.

According to Professor Gyampo, teachers are afraid to speak up about the ills of the Free Senior High School program.

In a radio interview, Prof. Gyampo reveals many unhappy teachers are afraid to speak up because they know they will be victimized by the government if they do.

“The free SHS has been saddled with so many challenges and you hear teachers talking. If you’re a parent and you’re close to them, they’ll talk to you about it. But when you ask them to voice it out, they’ll tell you that when they do, they’ll be transferred,” Prof. Gyampo noted.

Prof. Gyampo also revealed in the same interview that he has been receiving threats on his mobile phone because he is a vocal critic of the government and the system.

The comment by the respected Professor ripples out from the recent lament by Dr. Sam Jonah who slammed the government about its attitude has forced people of good conscience to keep quiet as the culture of silence steadily creeps back into Ghana under Akufo-Addo.

Under the Akufo Addo administration, journalists have been assaulted and in at least one case, murdered. The Akufo-Addo Jubilee House has also been fighting people who fight against corruption.

“What is baffling is that those who used to have voices on these things seem to have lost their voices. People speak on issues based on who is in power. Is our deafening silence suggesting that we are no longer concerned about issues that we complained about not too long ago, particularly when those issues persist….. The molestation of and in some cases assassination of journalists, murder of MPs, corruption, the harassment of anti-corruption agents” Dr. Sam Jonah had said.

However, Prof. Ransford Gyampo said he would not agree that the culture of silence has been overwhelming, noting that there still are political critics who are free to criticize the government.

“I don’t know if there’s any vociferously political critic who has been asked to shut up. Even me, I’m still talking. You might receive threatening texts here and there. I believe on this issue we must try and present a holistic picture. Generally, I think a few Ghanaians who have spoken their minds haven’t been gagged just that they receive text messages from cowards,” the lecturer said.