Ministry of Education to Amend Law for Faith-Based Representation as GES Tackles Staffing and Fraud Concerns

The Ministry of Education has announced plans to amend the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049) to restore and enhance the representation of faith-based organisations on the Ghana Education Service (GES) Council. This decision follows significant concerns raised by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference regarding a reduction in their influence under the current law. While the 1995 GES Act provided three seats for faith-based representatives, the 2020 amendment reduced this to a single representative. Recognizing the historical and social importance of these institutions in Ghana's school system, the Ministry has decided to pause the formation of the 2025 GES Council until the legislative amendment is completed to ensure inclusive governance.

Beyond legislative changes, the Ministry and the GES are addressing critical operational disparities in the Volta Region. The Conference of Presiding Members of Municipal and District Assemblies recently highlighted a major imbalance in teacher deployment, where some schools remain overstaffed while others suffer from acute teacher shortages. Dean Mawunyo Agbe has called on the GES to conduct a comprehensive audit to rectify these disparities, which are currently undermining educational outcomes in the region. To provide immediate relief, Volta Regional Minister James Gunu has suggested the temporary deployment of retired teachers and national service personnel to understaffed schools while a more permanent solution is implemented.

In tandem with these administrative reforms, the GES is moving to protect the integrity of its employment processes following the arrest of two individuals involved in a recruitment scam. The suspects were apprehended for allegedly soliciting money from job applicants under the guise of securing them positions within the service. The GES has clarified that two other suspects remain at large and emphasized that its recruitment process is entirely free and based strictly on established meritocratic procedures. Officials have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any fraudulent solicitations to the authorities to prevent further exploitation of job seekers.

These combined efforts reflect a broader push by the government, under the administration of President John Mahama, to refine educational policy and improve service delivery across the country. By restoring the partnership with faith-based organisations, the Ministry aims not only to fulfill a governance requirement but also to enlist these groups in addressing rising issues of indiscipline in schools. As the legislative process for Act 1049 moves forward, the focus remains on creating a more equitable, transparent, and collaborative educational environment that addresses both regional staffing needs and the security of the teaching profession.