‘Is he governing or presiding over dysfunction?’ - Ex-KATH CEO fires Haruna Iddrisu

Former Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) chief executive Prof Otchere Addai-Mensah has questioned Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu’s leadership, accusing him of failing to resolve recurring disruptions in the country’s education sector.

In an opinion piece published on Facebook on Saturday, 10 October, following an ongoing teachers’ strike, Addai-Mensah said industrial disputes, university administrative disruptions, uncertainty over school reopening and difficulties with senior high school placements raised questions about the ministry’s effectiveness.

He argued that the simultaneous challenges pointed to a pattern of reactive management rather than long-term solutions to problems facing the education sector.

“Emergency meetings are not achievements, public assurances are not solutions, and political rhetoric is no substitute for results,” Addai-Mensah wrote.

He said unresolved grievances, outstanding arrears and administrative delays should be addressed before they escalate into industrial action, warning that repeated disruptions were imposing costs on students, parents and the country.

The former hospital chief executive acknowledged that Iddrisu had inherited challenges but argued that this should not permanently shield the minister from scrutiny over his performance.

“Inherited challenges (granted) are no permanent alibi for underperformance,” he wrote, adding that the ministerial office carried an obligation to deliver measurable results.

Addai-Mensah challenged the minister to demonstrate tangible progress in resolving the recurring problems, arguing that leadership should be assessed on outcomes rather than promises.

“Is he governing Ghana’s education sector, or merely presiding over its dysfunction?” he asked.

His criticism comes amid an industrial dispute involving teacher unions, which have demanded action from the government on their concerns before returning to the classroom.

The dispute has added to pressure on the education authorities to resolve outstanding issues affecting teachers and minimise disruptions to academic activities.

Addai-Mensah’s comments are an expression of opinion and do not, on their own, establish that the minister is responsible for all the challenges cited. The piece did not include a response from Iddrisu.