A group of newly posted teachers in Ashanti Region has voiced their frustration over eight months of unpaid salaries, staging a protest at the Ghana Education Service (GES) headquarters in Accra on Monday, April 14, 2025.
The teachers, who were deployed in July 2024 after completing their training at various colleges of education, are demanding immediate payment of their salary arrears and resolution of administrative issues that have delayed their compensation.
The Protest and Teachers’ Concerns
The protesting teachers highlighted the severe financial strain caused by the non-payment of their salaries. Abdul Majeed, one of the affected teachers, explained that while some colleagues have received their payments, others have been left without any income for eight months.
“We are here because of our unpaid salaries. Some of us have been in service for eight months and still haven’t been paid,” he said. Another teacher shared that attempts to resolve the issue with regional offices and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department have yielded conflicting explanations, leaving them frustrated.
The group emphasized that their livelihoods have been severely impacted, with many struggling to meet basic needs. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of clear communication from authorities regarding when their arrears would be settled.
GES Response and Steps Taken
Following the protest, the Director-General of GES, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, met with representatives of the teachers behind closed doors. During the meeting, GES assured the group that a committee had been established to address their concerns. The committee includes representatives from the affected teachers to ensure transparency and expedite solutions.
Adomako Korankye, a leader of the protesting group, noted that while they appreciated GES’s efforts to resolve the issue, they would remain vigilant until payments were made. “We won’t feel fully relieved until the money is in our accounts because that’s our main objective,” he stated.
Broader Implications
This incident is part of a larger pattern of salary delays and administrative inefficiencies affecting public sector workers in Ghana. Similar grievances have been raised by other groups, including trainee nurses and midwives as well as headteachers in different regions.
These systemic issues not only undermine workers’ morale but also disrupt essential public services like education and healthcare.
For newly posted teachers in particular, such delays can lead to significant financial hardship early in their careers, potentially affecting their professional commitment and performance. The situation also raises questions about payroll management and validation processes within public institutions.
The Way Forward
While GES has taken initial steps to address the concerns by forming a committee, affected teachers are urging swift action to ensure timely payment of arrears. They have warned that failure to resolve these issues promptly could lead to further protests or disruptions in schools across the region.
This ongoing challenge underscores the need for improved administrative systems within Ghana’s education sector to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Teachers play a critical role in shaping the nation’s future, and ensuring their financial stability is essential for maintaining quality education standards
