In a major revelation that highlights the challenges facing Ghana’s education sector, the Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has disclosed that approximately 39,000 appointment letters were issued to teaching and non-teaching staff without prior financial clearance. This disclosure comes amidst a nationwide directive from the Ghana Education Service (GES) to revoke all such unauthorized appointments.
Speaking directly to a group of picketing university graduate teachers at the Ministry of Education forecourt, the Minister acknowledged the frustrations of affected staff but clarified that the mass issuance of appointment letters was not sanctioned by the current administration. According to him, only a fraction of the 39,000 individuals—possibly between 9,000 and 12,000—might eventually be absorbed, subject to validation and available budget.
“Appointment letters were issued to persons numbering up to 39,000 when there was no financial clearance to do that to begin with, so that’s problematic,” Hon. Iddrisu stated. He added, “Whoever misled you, deceived you—it’s not the John Mahama or Haruna administration at all. Somebody probably… deceptively got a number of you unknowingly to yield to some recruitment of a sort which recruitment was not approved legitimately.”
This statement follows an earlier directive issued by the Acting Director-General of GES, Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis, revoking all appointments of staff not yet placed on the government payroll. The directive, based on orders from the Office of the President, aims to enforce proper governance and ensure all public sector appointments follow due process.
GES Orders Nationwide Revocation
On February 17, 2025, GES announced the revocation of all appointments and recruitments—both teaching and non-teaching—where the individuals had not been officially added to the payroll. Regional, District, Municipal, and Metropolitan Directors of Education were instructed to enforce this policy immediately.
The revoked appointments primarily affect those recruited after December 7, 2024, under the previous government. According to GES, this move was necessary to correct employment irregularities and maintain a credible payroll system.
Validation Exercise Underway
To streamline the employment process and verify the legitimacy of appointments, GES has launched a nationwide validation exercise. In a letter dated March 5, 2025, the Service announced that affected staff must undergo validation by March 14, 2025. A three-member committee in each region—comprising the Regional Human Resource Officer, Internal Auditor, and Accountant—has been tasked with verifying key documents including:
- Appointment Letter
- Academic Certificate
- Licensure Certificate
- National Service Certificate
Prof. Davis emphasized that this exercise is vital to eliminate fraudulent entries and ensure that only qualified staff remain on the payroll. He urged all affected individuals to cooperate fully.
What This Means for Affected Staff
For thousands of individuals who had received appointment letters but had not yet been added to the payroll, the revocation is a significant blow. Their employment status is now uncertain, pending the outcome of the validation exercise. The Education Minister called for patience as the government works to audit the process and determine how many recruits can be absorbed within the budget.
“This exercise is not yet complete. If that exercise is not complete, I have no story to tell you. You have to be patient until we finish the validation,” Minister Iddrisu noted.
A Call for Transparency and Due Process
The unfolding situation highlights the importance of transparency and adherence to due process in public sector recruitment. While many affected recruits await clarity on their future, the government appears committed to restoring integrity in the employment system through audits and financial prudence.
GES has assured that further updates will be communicated, and affected individuals are encouraged to remain in touch with their regional offices for guidance.
Published By: Justice Donkoh | GESHub.org
