Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that President John Dramani Mahama has instructed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to immediately promote all eligible deputy directors of education across the country.
This directive comes in response to a strike threat issued by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), which had planned industrial action on April 30 over long-standing delays in the promotion of junior-ranked teachers.
Speaking on Thursday, April 24, at the launch of a sanitary pad distribution initiative for schoolgirls, the Minister emphasized that the promotions would be granted regardless of office space availability or formal postings.
“One of your major concerns, the president raised to me, is that during his campaign rounds, many of you—deputy directors of education—struggle to move up due to a lack of office spaces,” Haruna Iddrisu said.
“President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education to grant legitimate promotions to all qualified deputy directors. Even without physical offices, they will serve in their full capacity as directors within the GES,” he assured.
The sanitary pad initiative, dubbed the Free Pad Intervention, forms part of President Mahama’s broader vision of promoting gender equality and ensuring inclusive access to quality education for all children, regardless of gender or background.
President Mahama had previously emphasised the pressing need to address the barriers girls face due to menstruation. During his maiden State of the Nation Address, he underscored the importance of removing such obstacles:
The programme is expected to ease families’ financial burden, improve school attendance among girls, and enhance their overall health and well-being. The initiative aims to create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment by ensuring that girls have access to essential menstrual hygiene products.
