Claim: A Facebook user shared a flyer that claimed Ghana’s Deputy Education Minister, Dr John Ntim Fordjour, said no one can become rich as a “mere teacher.”
Verdict: False. DUBAWA’s investigations showed that Ghana’s Deputy Education Minister, Dr Ntim Fordjour, did not make the alleged claim. Reacting to the flyer, Ghana’s Ministry of Education described it as a “malicious and palpably false news card.”
Also, Accra-based Citi FM, the flyer’s alleged originator, has denounced its content. DUBAWA later checked with the Facebook user and noticed he had deleted his post.
Full Text
A Facebook user shared a flyer that claimed Ghana’s Deputy Education Minister, Rev. Dr John Ntim Fordjour, had said one cannot be rich by being a “mere teacher.”
“Teachers do not need to own houses or cars and any luxuries; all they need are basic necessities like food and clothing. You cannot become rich by being a mere teacher,” the Deputy Education Minister said.
The social media user posted the flyer with this message:
“When you go to church today intercede for the man who spoke these words. I implore especially teachers to pray hardest. Your reward, as you have always been told, is in heaven. Pray without ceasing.”
The flyer featured the logo of Accra-based media outlet Citi FM.
DUBAWA’s Google Reverse Image Search showed that the flyer was widely shared on social media. See here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
An X user, Mr Mawusi, who equally shared the flyer on Oct. 26, 2024, wrote: “Vote wisely.”
Another X user, Kojo Joey, wrote on Oct. 27, 2024, “School be scam.”
DUBAWA decided to probe the claim due to its virality on social media in West Africa.
Verification
DUBAWA’s investigations showed that Ghana’s Deputy Education Minister, Dr Ntim Fordjour, did not make the alleged claim.
DUBAWA checked with the Facebook user and noticed he had deleted his post from his wall.
Ghana’s Ministry of Education responded to the flyer in a press release, describing it as a “malicious and palpably false news card.”
“It is obvious the originators were actuated by malice in their bid to court public disaffection for the affable Deputy Minister for Education, whose record of public statements have always been courteous, kind, and made with absolute circumspection,” the statement Dr Fordjour sent to DUBAWA when contacted read.
Reacting to the claim, Accra-based Citi FM, the flyer’s alleged originator, has also denounced its content.
In a public disclaimer on X shared on Oct. 26, 2024, the media outlet wrote, “Fake! Please disregard this news card – it is not from us.”
The results of DUBAWA’s Google Keyword Search disclosed no reputable media organisation in Ghana has reported on the alleged claim.
Conclusion
The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr John Ntim Fordjour, did not say that no one can become rich as a “mere teacher.”
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