In response to recent public confusion and political commentary surrounding the 2024 graduate teacher recruitment by the Ghana Education Service (GES), former Director-General Dr. Eric Nkansah has issued a detailed clarification to set the record straight.
This clarification follows a viral video in which the current Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, claimed that 39,000 appointment letters were issued in 2024 without the necessary financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance. Dr. Nkansah, however, has firmly refuted this assertion, labelling it factually inaccurate and misleading.
Financial Clearance Was Duly Obtained
According to the former Director-General, the recruitment carried out by GES in 2024 was fully supported by formal financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance.
- On 10th May 2024, the Ministry of Finance approved the recruitment of 16,500 graduate teachers from the Colleges of Education.
- An additional clearance for 2,000 more graduate teachers was granted on 26th July 2024, bringing the total to 18,500.
- Later, on 10th October 2024, the Ministry issued an amendment that reallocated 2,000 slots to diploma teacher recruitment instead.
These documented clearances demonstrate that every appointment made by GES in 2024 was within the authorized recruitment limits set by the Ministry of Finance.
Utilisation Breakdown
Dr. Nkansah provided a transparent breakdown of how the financial clearance was utilised:
Graduate Teacher Clearance (16,500):
- 12,784 recruited from Colleges of Education
- 2,629 limited university graduates recruited
- 920 slots used to resolve a 2023 spillover, in consultation with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department
Total Utilised: 16,333
Remaining Balance: 167
Diploma Teacher Clearance (2,000):
- 1,387 recruited
Remaining Balance: 613
In Summary:
- Total Financial Clearance in 2024: 18,500
- Total Teachers Recruited: 17,720
- Unutilised Clearance Slots: 780
This data directly contradicts claims that as many as 39,000 appointment letters were issued without financial backing. Dr. Nkansah emphasized that all recruitments were conducted within the approved framework and called on current officials to rely on documented facts rather than speculation.
A Call for Transparency
Dr. Nkansah’s clarification comes at a critical moment, as thousands of newly recruited teachers have found themselves affected by a mass revocation of appointments initiated by the GES in early 2025. The decision, backed by a directive from the Office of the President, affected those not yet captured on the government payroll and has triggered significant unrest among affected graduates.
While current Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has acknowledged the distress and announced an ongoing validation exercise, his statement on the alleged unauthorized recruitment has fueled further confusion. Dr. Nkansah’s rebuttal seeks to restore transparency and trust in the public education sector’s recruitment processes.
Source: GESHub.org
