Ghana’s president-elect, John Dramani Mahama, granted an interview to Paul Ndiho of the Voice Of America (VOA) on December 15, 2024. He addressed a number of issues in his first post-victory interview, addressing a range of issues from education, the economy, corruption and the environment. 

In the interview, John Mahama made several claims this report seeks to fact-check.

 

Claim 1

“Because we are focused on Free SHS, we are abandoning the basic level. And so the basic level is becoming a major problem. 1.3 million pupils at the basic level do not have furniture. They don’t have tables and chairs to sit on,” Mahama said (between 8:34 – 8:51.) 

Fact-Check

Data published by an education Think-Tank, Africa Education Watch, on desk deficits in basic schools as of 2021, puts the number of basic school pupils without desks at 2.3 million. 

“According to the Ministry of Education, by 2021, about 596,000 KG pupils, representing half of the national KG population and 1.28 million pupils in primary schools, lacked desks in school. Another 425,000 pupils, representing 30 per cent of JHS students, were without writing spaces. This brings the total number of public basic school pupils without desks to about 2.3 million,” the organisation said in its report titled; “Confronting The Desk Deficits In Ghana’s Basic Schools” – Policy Brief Vol. 25. 

Verdict

Therefore the claim that 1.3 million pupils at the basic level lack furniture is Understated. 

The office of the President-elect, in an email correspondence, acknowledged the fact that Mahama had understated the figure.

 

Claim 2

“If you look at the government sector, the government sector employs less than a million people out of a population of 33 million (between 4:20 – 4:26).

Fact-check 

GhanaFact investigation found the claim to be True.  According to Ghana Statistical Service’s 2022 Earnings Inequality in the Public Sector report, the public sector employs about 688,000 people. 

“The Government of Ghana employs about 688,000 persons, with over one-third (34.8%) of the employees in the Ashanti (18.2%) and Greater Accra (16.5%) regions. The North East (1.4%) and Savannah regions (1.4%) hold only 2.8 percent of the total number of public sector employees,” the document highlighted. 

The document further explains that “the total number of active employees on the December 2022 payroll is 687,984. However, this figure reduces marginally (<0.02%) across some variables.

“Out of this, males in the public sector constitute 54.4% of the total number of employees,” it added.

Verdict 

Therefore John Mahama’s claim that the government sector employs less than a million people is True. 

 

Claim 3

“Germany and Kenya have recently signed an agreement to send skilled technicians to Germany to go and work (between 7:22-31). 

Fact-check

On September 13, 2024, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Kenyan President William Ruto signed an agreement in Berlin to allow more skilled workers from the East African country to live and work in Germany. 

“Yesterday, Germany and Kenya signed a labour migration agreement in the German capital Berlin. This agreement is designed to address the labour market needs of both countries, providing a structured framework for the migration of skilled workers. 

“It includes mechanisms to protect the rights and welfare of Kenyan migrant workers in Germany, ensuring safe, orderly and productive migration,” a post on Facebook by the German Information Centre Africa, said. 

Verdict

Therefore, the claim is rated True.

NOTE: The story has been updated to reflect the reaction of the president-elect’s office with respect to the first claim.

Researched by: Gifty Danso 

GD/TA/AS