Teacher dismissed for impregnating two students

The Shama-Ahanta East Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has recommended the immediate dismissal of Mr Matthew Kingsford Cudjoe, 36, a class six teacher of Supomu Dunkwa Methodist Primary School, near Sekondi, for impregnating two junior secondary school girls.

In addition, the committee recommended that he should be made to comply with the arrangement he had already made with the parents of the girls for their maintenance. The recommendations followed the outcome of the committee's findings after going into a charge of defilement leveled against Mr Cudjoe by the Metropolitan GES Secretariat. A spokesman of the committee told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that, Cudjoe 36, single, used to invite the girls in turns to be cooking and washing his clothes for him. He alleged that Cudjoe took advantage of the girls and had sex with them. The spokesman said between January and February, the parents of the girls found their daughters pregnant and when they asked them individually, they mentioned Cudjoe as being responsible for their pregnancy.

He said Cudjoe admitted responsibility when the parents of the girls confronted him. The spokesman said the defilement of the girls by the teacher got to the notice of the Metropolitan Director of Education, Mr J. C. Quansah, who after some investigation summoned Cudjoe to appear before the disciplinary committee. He said when Cudjoe appeared before the committee last Monday, July 3, he readily admitted responsibility but explained that it was "the work of Satan". Mr Cudjoe disclosed to the committee that one of the parents of the girls is demanding 1.5 million cedis, while the other is claiming two million cedis as compensation. In addition, he said he is to provide daily stipend for the girls as well as be responsible for their medical bills. Mr Cudjoe said in order that the girls do not suffer unduly, he has agreed to the demands by the parents and has already made a part payment of 300,000 cedis in respect of one of the girls and is also making effort to pay that of the other. He, therefore, appealed to the committee to deal leniently with him.

However, the committee said it has no other alternative than to recommend the dismissal since he has brought the teaching profession into disrepute. The Director General of the GES and the Minister of Education have in recent times warned teachers against having any sexual relationships with schoolchildren.