Claim: Multiple social media users claim Ghana’s Deputy Education Minister, Rev. Dr. John Ntim Fordjour, said no one can become rich as a “mere teacher.”
Verdict: False. JUSTFACT GHANA’s research showed that the West African country’s Deputy Education Minister, Rev. Dr. John Ntim Fordjour, did not make the alleged claim. The country’s Education Ministry labelled the claim as “malicious and palpably false” in a press statement issued on Oct. 27, 2024. Also, reacting to the claim on X (formerly Twitter), Accra-based Citi FM, the flyer’s alleged originators, has said it is not coming from them.
Background
Multiple social media users claim Ghana’s Deputy Education Minister, Rev. Dr. John Ntim Fordjour, said no one can become rich as a “mere teacher.”
“Teachers do not need to own houses or cars and any luxuries; all they need are basic necessities like food and clothing. You cannot become rich by being a mere teacher,” the Deputy Education Minister is quoted as saying.
A Google Reverse Image Search conducted by JUSTFACT GHANA disclosed the flyer had viral on social media.
See the flyer on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Investigation
JUSTFACT GHANA’s research showed that the West African country’s Deputy Education Minister, Rev. Dr. John Ntim Fordjour, did not make the alleged claim.
In a press statement issued on Oct. 27, 2024, the country’s Education Ministry labelled the claim as “malicious and palpably false.”
“It is obvious the originators were actuated by malice in their bid to court public disaffection for the affable Deputy Minister for Education, whose record of public statements have always been courteous, kind, and made with absolute circumspection,” the Education Ministry’s statement said.
Also, reacting to the claim on X (formerly Twitter), Accra-based Citi FM, the flyer’s alleged originators, has said it is not coming from them.
“FAKE! Please disregard this news card—it is not from us,” the media outlet said on Oct. 26, 2024.
The findings of JUSTFACT GHANA’s Google keyword search revealed no credible Ghanaian media outlet has published news report on the claim.
JUSTFACT GHANA checked with some social media users who shared the flyer and found that one had deleted the post from his Facebook wall.
Conclusion
Ghana’s Deputy Education Minister, Rev. Dr. John Ntim Fordjour, did not say one cannot be rich as a “mere teacher.”
