The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) has vehemently declared Ghana's escalating teacher recruitment shortfall a "national emergency," asserting that the government's inaction constitutes a direct breach of its constitutional responsibility. Specifically, CDM points to Article 25(1)(a), which guarantees Free, Compulsory and Universal Basic Education (FCUBE), stating that the current situation represents not merely an administrative setback but a profound failure to uphold fundamental rights.

According to the group, the crisis is evidenced by over 30,000 classrooms nationwide that remain without teachers, while simultaneously more than 60,000 trained educators are unemployed. This stark contrast highlights a systemic inefficiency and poor workforce planning, rendering the promise of free education meaningless. CDM warns that where teachers are absent, education is fundamentally denied, equity is destroyed, and national development is consequently sabotaged. The situation is further exacerbated by nearly one million children reportedly out of school, with independent assessments projecting potential learning losses of 64% in arithmetic and 18% in reading. This, they caution, could push over 1.2 million children into learning poverty, culminating in a looming generational tragedy.

CDM has strongly condemned the government’s persistent silence and perceived indifference since the 2026 Budget presentation, describing its approach as one of "delay, opacity and indifference" when decisive leadership is paramount. The movement argues that repeated shortages and prolonged unemployment among trained teachers are symptoms of cyclical recruitment delays and the absence of a sustainable national teacher forecasting and recruitment policy. They assert that Ghana's future cannot be mortgaged to bureaucratic inertia and policy paralysis, and that every month of inaction deepens learning gaps, widens inequality, and undermines public confidence in democratic governance.

To address this critical situation, CDM has proposed a comprehensive six-point action plan, urging immediate and transparent action. Key demands include the immediate absorption of all qualified unemployed trained teachers nationwide, the prompt issuance of appointment letters, and fair postings, with a particular focus on underserved communities. The movement calls for the publication of clear recruitment timelines and a detailed national teacher deployment framework. This framework should outline district-by-district staffing gaps, recruitment targets, timelines, and robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure accountability and prevent disparities between urban and deprived communities.

Furthermore, CDM advocates for the establishment of an Education Emergency Response Fund designed to support large-scale teacher recruitment, equitable deployment, and continuous professional development. They also demand strengthened parliamentary oversight, including mandatory quarterly updates on recruitment, deployment, and classroom staffing levels. An urgent ministerial briefing to Parliament within 30 days, followed by regular progress reports, is also requested. Reaffirming its solidarity with parents, teachers, and students, CDM underscores that education is not merely a privilege but a constitutional right and the foundational pillar of democracy, equality, and national progress, urging the government to act decisively, transparently, and urgently.