The Ministry of Education has secured financial clearance to recruit 7,000 teachers in the coming months, as part of efforts to address staffing gaps across the country.
Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu announced that the Ghana Education Service (GES) has been directed to open its recruitment portal from April 10, 2026. The exercise is expected to close by July 1, 2026.
Speaking at a news conference in Accra on April 1, the Minister acknowledged persistent teacher shortages, which continue to affect effective education delivery nationwide. According to him, current data indicates that more than 30,000 teaching vacancies exist across the country.
He noted that the 2026 national budget has allocated over GH¢39 billion to the education sector, with part of the funds earmarked for recruitment.
Mr. Iddrisu confirmed that graduates from 2022 to 2025 will be eligible to apply, with priority given to those willing to serve in underserved communities.
“Graduates from 2022 to 2025 may apply for placement across the country. Priority will be given to those who are ready and willing to serve in deprived and underserved areas where we have identified significant teacher gaps,” he stated.
The Minister emphasized that the recruitment process will be competitive and transparent, while also aligning with government’s broader decentralisation agenda.
“The GES application portal will be opened from Friday, April 10, 2026. It will be a competitive and transparent process, with emphasis on those willing to serve in deprived areas. We are also considering the decentralisation of teacher recruitment,” he said.
He added that the process is expected to conclude before July.
“At least on or before July 1, 2026, the process should be closed,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Mr. Iddrisu also highlighted a staffing shortfall in public universities, revealing that financial clearance has been granted for the recruitment of 1,200 lecturers.
“As part of the approval, tertiary institutions will undertake limited recruitment to strengthen their faculty. In my view, we should move towards an automatic replacement system for lecturers, which we are still discussing with the Finance Minister. For now, about 1,200 faculty members will be recruited and distributed following guidance from GTEC,” he explained.
The recruitment drive is expected to ease pressure on both basic and tertiary education institutions while improving the overall quality of teaching and learning across the country.