In the wake of nationwide unrest among university graduate teachers affected by recent revocations of appointments, Ghanaian educator and counselor Jerry Akporhor has publicly criticized comments made by the Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, calling them “false and misleading.”
The controversy stems from a statement issued by the Minister during a public address at the Ministry of Education forecourt, where he addressed picketing teachers demanding clarity on their employment status. Hon. Iddrisu claimed that under the previous administration, approximately 39,000 appointment letters were issued without the necessary financial clearance. He further asserted that, at most, only 9,000 to 12,000 of these appointees might be absorbed into the system, citing financial and procedural irregularities.
However, Jerry Akporhor—a teacher, counselor, and founder of the widely followed Informed Teachers Network—strongly refuted the Minister’s assertions. Drawing from official data released by the Ghana Education Service (GES), Akporhor pointed out that the recruitment numbers presented by the Minister were inaccurate and grossly exaggerated.
According to a GES statement published on December 1, 2024, a total of 38,748 individuals applied for teaching positions. Of this number, only 11,665 applicants were deemed qualified. Even more striking is the fact that just over 2,000 of those qualified applicants actually received appointment letters. The remaining 9,000 were placed on pending status awaiting further processing.
Akporhor highlighted that these 2,000-plus appointees, who had initially received confirmation, later had their appointments revoked under a broader government directive to halt all public sector recruitments not yet finalized on payroll. Following this, GES reinstated the appointments and instructed the affected individuals to participate in a validation process set to conclude by March 14, 2025. Despite fulfilling these requirements, the teachers have yet to receive any updates, prompting the recent wave of protests.
The government’s directive to revoke unconfirmed appointments was based on a February 10, 2025, order from the Office of the President. It targeted recruitments made after December 7, 2024, which were allegedly executed without proper financial clearance or adherence to due process. Acting on this, GES revoked all appointments not yet reflected on the government payroll and initiated a validation exercise to verify the legitimacy of those affected.
Akporhor does not lay full blame on Hon. Iddrisu, acknowledging that the Minister may not have been fully briefed. However, he emphasized that the Education Minister’s communication team should ensure the accuracy of information disseminated to the public. The spread of incorrect data only serves to heighten frustration and mistrust among young graduates who followed due process and are now left in limbo.
He called on GES to step forward with a transparent and honest account of the situation, urging the institution to provide timely updates and clarity. “The silence from GES is fuelling anxiety,” Akporhor noted, warning that continued inaction could damage public confidence in both the Ministry and the Service.
This episode has cast a spotlight on systemic lapses in Ghana’s public sector recruitment processes and highlighted the urgent need for consistent communication, transparency, and due diligence. As affected teachers await answers, the responsibility lies with both the Ministry of Education and GES to offer clear and credible guidance in these uncertain times.
Published By: Justice Donkoh | GESHub.org
