The streets of Accra witnessed heightened activity on Wednesday, November 19, as unposted teachers from the 2022 and 2023 graduate cohorts mobilised to demand postings.
Their demonstration, led by the Coalition of Unemployed Trained Teachers from the Colleges of Education, highlighted long-standing frustrations among educators who have completed national service and passed the Teacher Licensure Examination but remain without placements in the education system.
Responding to the protests, Minister for Education Hon. Haruna Iddrisu assured the public that resolving the issues of unposted teachers is a government priority. Speaking to journalists, he noted that the education sector remains Ghana’s largest employer and that steps have already been initiated to integrate trained teachers into schools.
The Minister revealed that Cabinet had approved the recruitment of “6,100 teachers from the 2023 cohort,” emphasising that these teachers have been fully accounted for in government recruitment records.
“Education remains Ghana’s largest employer. I understand that some striking teachers are looking for us on the streets of Accra. To respond to them, Cabinet gave approval for us to recruit some 6100 more teachers and therefore that category of teachers would belong to the 2023 cohort”
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Education
Hon. Iddrisu described the ongoing recruitment as part of the government’s efforts to clear the backlog of unposted educators and urged the striking teachers to return to offices for verification processes, noting that proper audit and identification were necessary to facilitate placement and salary activation.
Delayed Postings
The Coalition of Unemployed Trained Teachers was vocal about the delays in posting graduates. Representing both the 2022 and 2023 cohorts, the group argued that despite repeated appeals to the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service, their concerns had not been addressed.
During the protest, members rejected an attempt by the Deputy Public Relations Officer of GES to receive their petition, insisting on presenting it directly to the Education Minister himself, reflecting their distrust of intermediary communication channels.
Mr. Eshun De-Graft Brown, Deputy President of the Coalition, reiterated the group’s demand for immediate postings, highlighting the prolonged limbo many trained teachers have endured.
The protestors also suggested structural reforms, arguing that Colleges of Education should only operate in line with workforce requirements to prevent backlogs from recurring. Their demonstration, which began at Tema Station and was expected to progress to the Jubilee House, was peaceful but underscored growing impatience with administrative delays.
Hon. Iddrisu acknowledged the frustrations while reiterating the government’s commitment to resolving them through verified administrative processes.
He stressed that the Cabinet-approved recruitment batch is only one step in addressing the broader backlog, signalling that administrative procedures are underway to regularise postings and prevent further delays.
The Ministry of Education faces a delicate balance: advancing recruitment while managing heightened expectations from trained teachers and the public. The approval of 6,100 teachers from the 2023 cohort represents a significant response, but protesters argue that broader action is needed to include earlier cohorts and ensure equitable distribution of placements across the country.
The unfolding situation highlights systemic challenges in Ghana’s education sector, including the need for timely recruitment, proper planning for teacher supply, and strengthened communication with stakeholders.
As Ghana continues to grapple with backlog challenges in teacher postings, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu’s announcements following the protests, underscore the government’s recognition of the issue, and highlight the relief the government’s phased approach and Cabinet approval for recruitment are expected to bring.
The Coalition of Unemployed Trained Teachers remains vigilant, insisting on direct engagement with top education authorities to ensure that the backlog is addressed comprehensively and that trained teachers are not left waiting indefinitely.
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