GES Closes Recruitment Portal Early As Over 40,000 Applicants Chase 7,000 Job Vacancies  — Education Minister Defends The Decision 

The Ghana Education Service has shut down its online portal for recruiting teachers shortly after it was opened on April 10, 2026, due to an unexpectedly high number of applications.

Officials revealed that over 40,000 people applied for only 7,000 teaching vacancies. Because of the large number of submissions, the portal was closed earlier than planned to allow authorities to process the applications effectively.

At a press briefing in Accra, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, explained that financial limitations made it impossible to recruit more teachers, even though there is strong demand for jobs in the sector.

He noted that if enough funds were available, the government could have employed as many as 50,000 teachers across the country. However, current budget constraints mean only a smaller number can be hired. He says the government could only secure clearance for that number (7000), speaking at the launch of the 19th edition of the eLearning Africa Conference.

The Minister also emphasized that the recruitment exercise has been carried out openly, with approval granted to employ up to 7,000 qualified applicants, including both degree and diploma holders.

He added that the large number of applicants highlights how many people are seeking teaching jobs. Those who successfully submitted their applications will now go through a thorough evaluation based on their skills, qualifications, and readiness for the role.

Mr. Iddrisu assured all applicants that the final selection will be conducted fairly and based strictly on merit.