Credit Kekeli K. Blamey
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the education Minister has responded to a group of university graduate teachers who staged a protest at the Ministry of Education’s forecourt on Wednesday, May 7.
The teachers are demanding staff IDs for those already at post and regional posting letters for others whose documentation remains stalled at various regional offices. They blame the delays on revoked postings and inadequate follow-up after validation, resulting in about five months of unpaid salaries for many.
Minister Iddrisu explained that the previous administration had issued approximately 39,000 appointment letters without securing the necessary financial clearance. As a result, the current government may only be able to absorb between 9,000 and 12,000 of those appointees.
One affected teacher, Myers Assibi Akudbilla, recounted being posted from Tamale in the Upper East Region to the Ashanti Region. Despite being at post for five months, she has yet to receive her salary.
“I came for my staff ID and to follow up on my recruitment. I received my appointment on November 8, but by the time I got to the school, revocations had begun, and my documents couldn’t be processed,” she said. “My paperwork is now stuck at the district office.”
Emmanuel Ofori, Deputy Convenor of the aggrieved teachers, said a closed-door meeting with the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service offered some clarity.
According to him, the Director-General confirmed that teachers who had passed validation had been reinstated, but financial clearance remains a challenge.
“The clearance issued by the previous government has expired, and the Ministry of Finance is being petitioned to reactivate it,” Ofori explained. “Once that happens, our staff IDs can be issued and salaries paid.”
