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Ekow Gyan, the former General Secretary of the Teacher Trainees’ Association of Ghana (TTAG), has accused Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the running mate to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, of being disrespectful and arrogant.
In a recent statement, Gyan recounted his numerous encounters with Dr. Opoku Prempeh, who served as the Minister of Education during his tenure as a TTAG National Executive Member. Gyan described these encounters as marked by a notable lack of respect and a pervasive arrogance.
Gyan recalled a specific incident on June 4, 2018, when the TTAG leadership met with Dr. Opoku Prempeh and Professor Salifu, the then Executive Secretary for the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE). During this meeting, Gyan said Dr. Opoku Prempeh shouted at him for referencing a memo the Minister had presented to the cabinet concerning Teacher Education Reforms. He mentioned having a photograph taken by the Minister’s official photographer, showing Dr. Opoku Prempeh looking at a mobile phone screen while Gyan was being berated. According to Gyan, such insults were so frequent that they became almost routine.
He also recounted a similar incident involving a colleague who suggested expanding colleges of education to accommodate more students. This colleague, Mohammed, was also subjected to insults from Dr. Opoku Prempeh.
One of the most distressing moments, according to Gyan, was when Dr. Opoku Prempeh insulted Mrs. Eva Haizel, the then Director of Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, to the point of making her cry in front of the TTAG executives. Gyan emphasized that while he could tolerate insults directed at himself, insulting someone who could be his mother was entirely unacceptable.
Gyan further noted that Dr. Opoku Prempeh had ongoing conflicts with labor unions and student unions, including locking horns with the former CETAG General Secretary, Mr. Hemeng, and frequently clashing with the PRINCOF and Vice Chancellors Council.
Gyan shared an anecdote from a journalist at Asempa FM, who recounted how Dr. Opoku Prempeh ordered journalists to clean up a room after a press conference at the Ministry of Information, treating them as if they were his children.
Concluding his statement, Gyan expressed his belief that Dr. Opoku Prempeh, whom he described as disrespectfully arrogant, does not deserve to be Vice President of Ghana. He stated his readiness to respond whenever and wherever necessary, noting that Dr. Opoku Prempeh had even blocked him on WhatsApp during his tenure as a TTAG National Executive.
Ekow Gyan’s allegations come as the NPP’s Vice Presidential candidate prepares for the upcoming election, casting a shadow over his candidacy with these serious accusations of disrespect and arrogance.
