Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson delivered a challenging message regarding public sector hiring. He stated emphatically there will be no jobs for graduates who are nurses and teachers currently at home in 2026. The government simply cannot immediately employ the more than 150,000 nurses and teachers awaiting recruitment. Speaking on the Citi FM Morning Show on Friday, November 14, Dr. Forson explained the core issue. He clarified that the nation’s compensation budget cannot sustain the mass absorption of all qualified graduates within a single year.
He affirmed the government knows about the pressing need for more personnel in key service areas. Nevertheless, recruitment must proceed very carefully. This gradual hiring must happen to avoid destabilizing the budget. Dr. Forson directly stated the financial constraint. He stressed, “We cannot absorb one hundred and fifty thousand health and education graduates in a single year”. Furthermore, he clarified that the existing GH₵90 billion compensation budget already covers planned recruitments. These planned hirings target essential sectors like doctors, teachers, and nurses.
The Minister’s comments followed his presentation of the 2026 National Budget to Parliament. The budget announced a large GH₵33.3 billion allocation to the Ministry of Education. Therefore, this money will support programs aimed at boosting access, quality, and equity in the education system. Additionally, an extra GH₵9.9 billion was allocated to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). This allocation aims to strengthen infrastructure development across educational institutions. Furthermore, a significant GH₵1.1 billion targets the Ghana Secondary Learning Improvement Programme (GSLIP). This funding specifically supports efforts to phase out the double-track system.
He noted the large backlog causes genuine concern. Consequently, the hiring process must follow both fiscal space and sectoral priorities. This careful approach ensures long-term sustainability. Dr. Forson reiterated the government commits to expanding job opportunities. However, he warned that all recruitment decisions must reflect the country’s fiscal realities. He assured unemployed graduates the government will continue to recruit within essential sectors. The news confirms there will be no jobs for graduates en masse in the upcoming year.
Source: Coleman Publications (Citi FM Morning Show Interview)