“We Followed the Rules”: Dr. Eric Nkansah Refutes Minister’s Claim Over Teacher Recruitment, Cites Documented Financial Clearance

A brewing controversy over the recruitment of graduate teachers in 2024 has taken a sharp turn as Dr. Eric Nkansah, former Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), breaks his silence and publicly challenges the narrative presented by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu.

In a detailed statement released on Wednesday, Dr. Nkansah firmly rebutted the Minister’s recent claim that 39,000 appointment letters were issued in 2024 without financial clearance, describing the assertion as “factually inaccurate and misleading.”

“Every teacher recruited in 2024 was backed by valid and documented clearance from the Ministry of Finance,” Dr. Nkansah emphasized, adding that clearances were properly obtained, utilized, and accounted for in a transparent and procedural manner.

Supporting Facts Shared by Dr. Nkansah:

• On 10th May 2024, financial clearance was granted to recruit 16,500 graduate teachers from the Colleges of Education.
• An additional clearance of 2,000 teachers was approved on 26th July 2024.
• A subsequent amendment on 10th October 2024 allowed 2,000 slots to be reallocated to diploma teachers.

Dr. Nkansah further detailed the utilization of the financial clearance:

• 12,784 graduate teachers from Colleges of Education were recruited.
• 2,629 limited university graduates were absorbed.
• 920 were used to address prior year recruitment spillovers.
• 1,387 diploma teachers were engaged under the reallocated clearance.

According to his breakdown, a total of 17,720 teachers were recruited under a clearance of 18,500, leaving a balance of 780 unutilized slots—a far cry from the 39,000 figure cited by the Minister.

The former Director General’s calm but firm rebuttal has not only sparked public interest but also raised a key governance question:
Should governments publicly publish financial clearance documents for major recruitments to prevent misinformation and guide applicants?

Dr. Nkansah’s intervention has brought renewed calls for institutional transparency, fact-based governance, and non-partisan communication when handling youth employment and national service issues—especially when hope, trust, and livelihoods are at stake.

As pressure mounts for clarity, the ball now lies in the court of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance to respond with evidence—or revision.