The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has revealed that the government is working with the Ministry of Finance to secure financial clearance for the recruitment of more than 90,000 personnel into the education sector.
“In our space alone, we require 93,000 recruitments to fill vacancies for institutions of higher learning, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the Ghana Education Service, and the TVET service,” he announced.
The Minister was speaking at the 22nd Biennial Congress of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) in Aburi, Eastern Region. The event was held on the theme: “Rethinking Higher Education Pedagogy and Funding in the Age of AI: Ethics, Equity, and Development Impact.”
Mr Iddrisu also disclosed that the government had committed GHC 610 million to pay the book and research allowance for university lecturers.
“We are honouring a legitimate condition of service of university teachers, which is the payment of book and research allowance. The money will hit your account shortly,” he assured.
He praised UTAG for its foresight in addressing the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education, noting that AI was no longer futuristic but a present reality.
“AI will change the way we learn, the way we teach, and the way we practice. 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 said.
The Minister cautioned that if unchecked, AI could produce “lazy and dishonest students,” stressing the need for ethical safeguards alongside digital literacy and AI-driven pedagogical training.
Outgoing UTAG National President, Prof. Mamudu A. Akudugu, highlighted the Association’s achievements in securing improved conditions of service for academic staff, defending university autonomy, and promoting social responsibility.
“UTAG has provided over GHC 706,000 in scholarships to support 164 flood-affected students, showcasing the Association’s commitment to social responsibility beyond its membership,” he stated.
He also disclosed that UTAG had set up a working committee to plan and develop a long-term UTAG Guest House in Accra to serve as a sustainable welfare and revenue-generating facility.
About the Author
