Donkokrom SHS Headmaster Sacked for Exposing Government on Free SHS Policy

The Headmaster of Donkokrom Senior High School, John Mensah Dzokoto, has been sacked by the Ministry of Education through the Ghana Education Service. This decision follows Dzokoto’s transfer from Klo Agogo Senior High School in the Yilo Krobo Municipality to Donkokrom in the Afram Plains North District of the Eastern Region, after journalists frequently reported on the accommodation crisis at the school due to the implementation of the Free Senior High School Education Policy.

Starr News reports that the headmaster was accused of undermining the policy by allowing journalists to highlight the school’s challenges, thereby casting a negative light on the policy. In an interview with Starr News, the embittered Dzokoto expressed his feelings of injustice, stating that he was removed from the government payroll on May 22, 2019, and subsequently forced to retire despite having four more years until the retirement age of 60.

The dismissal of Dzokoto has led to administrative chaos at Donkokrom Senior High School, as a new headmaster has not yet been appointed, hindering the smooth running of the school.

This incident comes on the heels of a similar situation at Aggrey Memorial Zion Senior High School in Cape Coast, where Rev. Dr. Franklin Buadu was also dismissed. Buadu allegedly violated Ghana Education Service rules by admitting second-year students into the boarding house without the consent of his superiors. This action was perceived as sabotaging the enrollment of new students under the Free Senior High School Policy and the associated double-track system, which aims to maximize limited resources at senior high schools.

Buadu confirmed his dismissal to Starr News’ Central regional correspondent Kwaku Baah-Acheamfour but declined to provide further details, pledging to address the matter at an appropriate time. Aggrey Memorial Zion Secondary School, one of the most populous schools in the central region, faces significant enrollment challenges, complicating administration efforts.

The controversy surrounding the sacking of these headmasters highlights ongoing issues and tensions related to the implementation of the Free Senior High School Education Policy in Ghana.