Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has revealed that the government has secured Cabinet approval to recruit 6,100 new teachers, a move aimed at addressing staffing shortages within Ghana’s education sector.
Speaking to the press in Accra on Wednesday, November 19, the Minister emphasized that education continues to be the country’s largest employment sector and reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the teaching workforce.
His comments follow reports of demonstrations by some teacher trainees from the 2023 batch, who are demanding postings and validation of their salaries. According to Mr. Iddrisu, these trainees have already been included in the newly sanctioned recruitment numbers.
“I am aware that some of the striking teachers are searching for us across Accra,” he said. “Let me clarify that Cabinet has approved the hiring of 6,100 additional teachers, and this group — the 2023 cohort — has been fully covered under the new arrangement.”
The Minister expressed surprise that members of the same cohort were protesting instead of assisting the ministry with necessary administrative processes.
“I would be shocked if those on the streets are from that same group,” he remarked. “They should rather return to the appropriate offices for auditing and identification so that they can be reinstated and duly paid.”
Mr. Iddrisu encouraged the protesting trainees to cooperate with the verification process, assuring them that the new approval demonstrates the government’s commitment to resolving their concerns and facilitating their smooth absorption into the education service