The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has clarified that academic professionals — including professors, lecturers, and researchers — are exempt from the government’s recent directive suspending post-retirement contract appointments.
Speaking at the inauguration of the newly constituted Governing Council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Minister noted that the government intends to engage in extensive consultations to review the constitutional implications of the directive.
He urged the new Council to prioritise the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, while also championing the integration of Traditional Medicine into the curriculum. These efforts, he said, are aimed at producing job-ready graduates for the evolving market.
The government’s directive — issued on April 2, 2025, and signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama — called for the immediate suspension of post-retirement contract appointments for all retired public sector employees.
However, the Minister emphasized that this policy does not extend to those serving in academic roles.
The Chairman of the Governing Council, Nana Akyamfo Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu, expressed gratitude to the government and the Ministry of Education, pledging the Council’s commitment to enhancing KNUST’s standing as a premier institution of higher learning in Ghana and beyond.
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