Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Ghana’s Minister of Education, has announced that the Ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Finance to secure financial clearance for a major recruitment drive in the education sector. According to the Minister, 93,000 positions are required to fill vacancies across institutions of higher learning, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the Ghana Education Service, and the TVET service.
The announcement came during the 22nd Biennial Congress of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) in Aburi, Eastern Region, held under the theme, “Rethinking Higher Education Pedagogy and Funding in the Age of AI: Ethics, Equity and Development Impact.”
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Mr Iddrisu confirmed that the government is committing GHC 610 million to honour book and research allowances for university teachers, assuring that the funds had already been warranted and would soon reflect in their accounts. “We are honouring a legitimate condition of service of university teachers, which is a payment of book and research allowance. The money will hit your account shortly,” he said.
Highlighting the growing role of artificial intelligence in education, the Minister emphasised that AI is no longer a futuristic concept but a current reality shaping how teaching, learning, and professional practice are conducted. He stressed the importance of maintaining ethical integrity in the AI-driven educational landscape. “AI will change the way we learn, the way we teach, and the way we practise. Mainstreaming it as part of your pedagogical changes is significant. What is important is guaranteeing ethical integrity even as we operate in the age of AI,” he noted. He also cautioned that AI could encourage laziness and dishonesty among students unless paired with diligence and ethical adherence. The Minister further advocated for investment in digital literacy and AI-focused pedagogical training to prepare students for critical thinking and problem-solving.
Professor Mamudu A. Akudugu, the outgoing National President of UTAG, praised the Association’s progress in negotiating improved financial and non-financial conditions for academic staff. He underscored UTAG’s defence of university autonomy and collegial governance against external interference.
Demonstrating the Association’s commitment to social responsibility, Professor Akudugu revealed that UTAG had provided over GHC 706,000 in scholarships to assist 164 flood-affected students. He also highlighted the establishment of a working committee to plan and develop a long-term UTAG Guest House in Accra, aimed at creating a sustainable welfare and revenue-generating facility for members.
This year’s UTAG Congress underlined both the pressing need for increased human resources in Ghana’s education sector and the proactive integration of AI and digital tools into higher education, coupled with robust financial support for academic staff.
