Mahama Declares – No More Teacher Postings to Three Major Cities.

No More Teacher Postings to Three Major Cities – Mahama Declares

John Dramani Mahama has announced a major reform in Ghana’s teacher recruitment system, aimed at correcting the persistent disparities in the distribution of educators across the country.

Speaking during a presidential dialogue with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the President revealed that three major urban centres, Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi, will no longer be included in teacher recruitment exercises. He explained that this step is necessary to address the overconcentration of teachers in cities, which has left rural communities chronically understaffed.

“Our challenge is the oversupply of teachers in urban areas. From now on, teacher recruitment will be managed at the district level; there will be no centralised postings. Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi are closed,” he stated. 

This policy represents a significant shift from the previous centralised system, where recruitment and postings were largely coordinated from the capital. Under the new framework, districts will assume full responsibility for hiring, ensuring that recruitment aligns with local staffing needs.

President Mahama emphasized that the decentralised system will prioritise underserved and rural areas, where teacher shortages are most acute. He highlighted the difficulties faced by some communities, noting instances where a single teacher is compelled to handle multiple subjects because assigned teachers refuse to report for duty. “We have villages where one teacher teaches all subjects simply because those posted there do not report,” he lamented.

In addition to addressing staffing gaps, the President noted that empowering districts to manage recruitment and monitor teacher attendance would help eliminate inefficiencies such as “ghost teachers” on government payrolls. 

The reform is also expected to enhance the overall quality of education, as districts can identify precise staffing requirements and deploy qualified teachers where they are most needed. Stakeholders in education are expected to closely follow the implementation of this policy, which could represent a pivotal step toward bridging the urban-rural divide and strengthening Ghana’s education system.