Hundreds of newly posted teachers across Ghana have taken to public demonstrations, picketing at the Ghana Education Service (GES) headquarters and, in some cases, kneeling by the roadside under the hot sun to plead with President John Mahama for the payment of their long-overdue salary arrears.
These teachers, primarily recruited from various colleges of education and posted in July 2024, report that they have not received salaries for up to nine months, despite actively serving in classrooms nationwide.
Background: Months Without Pay
Since their appointment, many newly posted teachers have endured significant financial hardship due to delays in salary disbursement. The affected educators highlight that, while some of their colleagues have received payments, a considerable number remain unpaid for periods ranging from seven to nine months.
The root causes of these delays appear to be systemic inefficiencies in the payroll and validation processes, particularly concerning the issuance of staff identification numbers, which are essential for salary processing.
Protests and Public Pleas
On April 14, 2025, a large group of these teachers staged a protest at the GES headquarters in Accra, demanding immediate payment and the resolution of documentation issues. The teachers expressed frustration over the lack of clear communication and conflicting explanations from various government offices. As one teacher explained:
“You contact the Controller’s office, and they claim our entrance forms aren’t there. Then, you go to the regional office, and they say something completely different. That’s why we’ve come together to speak directly with the Director-General for clear answers”24.
The emotional toll has been significant. Teachers describe struggling to make ends meet, with some resorting to public displays of desperation, including kneeling in the sun to draw attention to their plight and directly appealing to John Mahama, who is seen as a figure capable of intervening and resolving the crisis.
Government Response
Following the protests, the Director-General of GES, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, met with the teachers’ representatives behind closed doors. He assured them that a committee has been established to address their concerns and expedite the resolution of payment issues. While this move provided some reassurance, the teachers remain sceptical, vowing to return with further demonstrations if the promised payments are not made soon.
Additionally, the Minister of Education has intervened in cases where teachers’ appointments were revoked due to payroll validation issues, granting a four-week window for affected teachers to complete the necessary processes. However, many teachers report that, even after successful validation, communication and resolution remain lacking, leaving them in continued financial and emotional distress5.
The Broader Impact on the newly posted teachers
The prolonged salary delays have not only strained the personal finances of the affected teachers but also undermined morale and professional commitment within the education sector. Teacher representatives emphasise that uncertainty and a lack of support from authorities have left many disillusioned and undervalued.
The ongoing salary arrears crisis among newly posted teachers in Ghana has reached a critical point, prompting public protests and direct appeals to national leaders such as John Mahama.
While government officials have pledged to address the issues, affected teachers insist that only the actual payment of their arrears will bring true relief. Until then, the threat of further demonstrations and escalating dissatisfaction within the teaching workforce remains high
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