Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has dismissed claims of a strained working relationship with Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Apaak, saying their professional partnership is strong and effective.
Speaking at the funeral service for John Azundem Apaak, father of the Deputy Minister and Member of Parliament for Builsa South, held in Bolgatanga, Iddrisu said suggestions that Dr. Apaak had been sidelined in the Ministry of Education are unfounded.
“My working relationship with Dr. Apaak is more than perfect,” Iddrisu said, adding that their personal ties extend back decades.
Iddrisu explained that his relationship with Dr. Apaak began in the late 1990s at the University of Ghana, where Dr. Apaak served as his campaign manager between 1997 and 1998 when he contested the presidency of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS).
“That relationship started in the halls of the University of Ghana. He is my proud deputy and we are proudly resetting education in Ghana,” the minister said.
The comments come after the Office of the Deputy Minister for Education released a statement responding to a video circulating online that suggested tension between Iddrisu and Dr. Apaak. The office described the claims as inaccurate and misleading, noting that Dr. Apaak has not expressed dissatisfaction with his role either publicly or privately. It added that he continues to play an active role in the ministry, frequently representing the ministry at key engagements.
The statement urged the public to treat the online commentary with caution, calling it speculative and unsupported. “The public is urged to disregard the misinformation contained in the video,” it said, emphasizing that the professional environment in the Ministry of Education remains focused on advancing the country’s education agenda.
Dr. Apaak’s office said in its initial response that narratives suggesting he has been marginalised were not reflective of his experience, and that he remains fully supportive of the ministry’s leadership and its mandate.
Source: A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith | Bolgatanga
