Lack of Financial Clearance behind Teacher Appointment Irregularities – Education Minister
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has addressed concerns raised by a group of newly posted university graduate teachers who staged a protest at the forecourt of the Ministry of Education, yesterday, May 7, 2025, demanding unpaid salaries and the issuance of staff IDs.
According to the aggrieved teachers, they have not received any form of remuneration for over eight months since their postings. They also lamented that they are yet to be issued staff identification numbers, which are crucial for processing salaries and other benefits. The teachers, most of whom were posted under the previous government, say they have been left in limbo, unsure of their future in the service.
Meeting the demonstrators in person, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu provided clarity on the situation, indicating that the root of the problem stemmed from actions taken by the previous administration. He revealed that appointment letters had been issued to approximately 39,000 graduate teachers, despite the absence of financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance.
“We have inherited a situation where 39,000 appointment letters were issued without the necessary financial clearance,” Mr. Iddrisu stated. “This poses a huge burden on the wage bill and complicates the process of regularizing their employment.”
The Minister further disclosed that the current administration is conducting a review of the appointments and, based on available fiscal space and the education sector’s needs, only between 9,000 and 12,000 of the newly posted teachers may be absorbed into the system.
“We understand the hardship and frustration many of you are facing,” Mr. Iddrisu said. “But we must also ensure that employment is sustainable and within the limits of government’s financial capacity. The Ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Education Service to resolve the situation in the most equitable way possible.”
Mr. Iddrisu urged the teachers to remain calm as efforts are made to determine the most appropriate course of action. He also hinted that priority may be given to teachers posted to underserved rural communities and those in critical subject areas such as mathematics, science, and ICT.
The protest reflects growing concerns among unemployed and underpaid graduates in the education sector, especially amidst government’s broader commitment to rationalizing public sector hiring. Meanwhile, the affected teachers have vowed to continue pressing for immediate intervention, including the payment of arrears and issuance of staff IDs, as they await official communication on their employment status.
