Political activist and social commentator, Rev. Charles Owusu, has urged President John Mahama to consider reassigning Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu to another ministry. According to Rev. Owusu, the challenges confronting the education sector require a different approach. He emphasized that education, agriculture, and national security are critical sectors that should be treated as national issues rather than being subjected to partisan politics.
Rev. Owusu shared his experience as an aspiring parliamentary candidate, revealing that some teachers in his constituency lacked basic furniture and were forced to sit on students' chairs. He had to buy and supply them with furniture, highlighting the dire conditions faced by teachers. He also raised concerns about the deplorable living conditions of some teachers and delays in the payment of allowances and other benefits due to them.
The activist stressed that improving the welfare and working conditions of teachers would have a direct impact on the quality of education delivered to students. He urged the Education Ministry to engage with various teacher unions and listen to their concerns to find lasting solutions. Rev. Owusu added that the Ministry should do well to have a meeting with the teacher unions, listen to their pleas, and provide them with whatever is due to them.
His comments come as Ghana's three major teacher unions, including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana (CCT-GH), have declared a nationwide industrial action effective Friday, September 25, 2026. The unions announced the strike in a joint statement over prolonged delays in addressing critical concerns affecting teachers.
The unions said their decision followed growing frustration over issues relating to their conditions of service and the handling of those matters by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Controller and Accountant-General's Department (CAGD). The strike action is a result of the government's failure to address their concerns, leading to increased tension in the education sector.
Rev. Owusu's call for the reassignment of Haruna Iddrisu comes as the education sector faces significant challenges. The sector minister has been criticized for his handling of the situation, with many stakeholders calling for a change in leadership. President Mahama will have to consider Rev. Owusu's comments and weigh his options in addressing the challenges facing the education sector.
The situation in the education sector remains volatile, with the nationwide strike by teacher unions set to continue until their demands are met. The government will need to engage with the unions and address their concerns to find a lasting solution to the challenges facing the sector. The fate of Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu and the future of the education sector remain uncertain.
Key points
- Rev. Charles Owusu urges President Mahama to reassign Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu amid challenges in the education sector.
