Claim: Haruna Iddrisu is the first Minister of Education from the northern sector in the Fourth Republic.
Source: Mustapha Ussif, MP for Yagaba Kubore Constituency
Verdict: True
Researched by Gifty Danso
The immediate past Minister of Sports, Mustapha Ussif, on January 25, 2025, claimed Haruna Iddrisu’s nomination as Education Minister makes him the first northerner to be nominated to hold the position in the Fourth Republic.
In a live broadcast of Haruna’s appearance before the Appointments Committee of Parliament as minister-designate for Education, the nominee was asked questions concerning the Free SHS programme, STEM education, and basic education, including the question from Mustapha Ussif around the basic school level dropout rates.
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“One of the biggest challenges in our educational sector is the high drop rates at the basic level. Being the first Minister for Education from the northern sector of our country in the Fourth Republic, what will you do to ensure that we address this issue that the Africa Education Watch has identified,” Ussif said. (between 4:40:46 – 4:41:27).
This fact check seeks to verify whether or not this is the first time an Education Minister has been appointed from the north since 1992.
Fact-check
Ghana‘s Fourth Republic started in 1992, marking the return to constitutional democracy after years of military rule. Since then, the country has had more than a dozen ministers of education who served in the governments of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Below is a list of the education ministers Ghana has had since the start of the Fourth Republic and the respective regions they came from:
| Name | Region of Origin | Year |
| Harry Sawyerr | Greater Accra Region | 1993 – 1997 |
| Christine Amoako Nuamah | Ashanti Region | 1997-1998 |
| Ekwow Spio Garbrah | Central Region | 1998 – 2001 |
| Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi | Bono-East Region | 2001 -2003 |
| Kwadwo Baah Wiredu | Ashanti Region | 2003-2005 |
| Yaw Osafo-Maafo | Eastern Region | 2005-2006 |
| Papa Owusu Ankomah | Eastern Region | 2006-2007 |
| Dominic Fobih | Central Region | 2007-2009 |
| Alex Tettey Enyo | Eastern Region | 2009-2011 |
| Betty Mould Iddrisu | Greater Accra Region | 2011-2012 |
| Lee Ocran | Western Region | 2012 – 2013 |
| Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang | Central Region | 2013-2017 |
| Mathew Opoku Prempeh | Ashanti Region | 2017- 2021 |
| Yaw Osei Adutwum | Ashanti Region | 2021-2024 |
| Haruna Iddrisu | Northern Region | 2025 – Present |
Ghana’s northern belt comprises the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savannah and North East regions. No previous Education Minister has come from the five regions.
Verdict
Therefore, the claim that Haruna Iddrisu is the first northerner to become Minister of Education is rated true.
About Haruna Iddrisu
Mr. Iddrisu, a long-serving MP for Tamale South was born in Tamale, the capital city of the Northern Region, and had his early education at the Kulikuli school, located in Tamale.
He had his university education at the University of Ghana in Accra between 1993 and 1997. He has previously held ministerial portfolios under the John Evans Atta Mills and John Mahama governments (2009 – 2017).
He has also served as a Minority Leader between 2017 and 2023. He was nominated for the education portfolio by President Mahama on January 16, 2025. Parliament unanimously approved his nomination after he appeared before the Appointment Committee and was sworn in almost a week later.
