The Minority Leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has criticised Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu and Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson for what he described as a lack of cooperation in addressing pressing issues affecting teachers.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Afenyo-Markin accused the two ministers of prioritizing internal political battles over who should succeed President John Dramani Mahama after his tenure as the next National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, rather than focusing on the plight of teachers awaiting recruitment and payment of arrears.

He condemned the education minister’s recent remarks that teacher employment requires clearance from the Finance Ministry, insisting that the ministers should work together to resolve the matter instead of shifting responsibility.

“The minister is only telling the media that, as for him, he's there, if he's there, he doesn't have a problem. The problem is the finance minister, you need to reconcile. You sit with him at cabinet now. You have just come. We will spare you.

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“We'll not put too much pressure on you. But Honorable minister, the teachers need clearance. Put pressure on the finance minister. He's your junior brother. Tell him to approve for you to recruit. It's not enough to tell the media that is not your responsibility. That's unacceptable. Honorable Minister of Education, I'm sorry, today is your first day at work, but we need to do our job. The teachers are suffering. Yes, of course, “ he said.

He added, “Instead of paying attention to critical issues in the economy, you are fighting over who will succeed President Mahama,” Afenyo-Markin said.

He further criticised attempts to discourage teachers from picketing, arguing that their constitutional right to demonstrate was being undermined.

He urged the education minister to engage directly with the finance minister to secure the necessary approvals for teacher recruitment.

Haruna Iddrisu had initially acknowledged the frustrations of teachers but explained that his ministry lacks the authority to approve payments or recruitment without clearance from the Finance Ministry.

“I know a lot of teachers are not happy with Government and the Education Ministry, but I am not the approval authority. I need clearance from the Finance Ministry,” Haruna Iddrisu stated.

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Collaborate with the finance minister, Hon. Ato Forson to give you clearance to recruit teachers and stop fighting over who succeeds president Mahama. - Hon Afenyo-Markin to Education minister Hon Haruna Iddrisu

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