Story by, Paul Mensah Nsor
A group of aggrieved newly posted teachers from Colleges of Education and Universities in Ghana held a press conference today to draw national attention to their plight of not receiving salaries for over a year despite diligently working in classrooms across the country.
Speaking on behalf of the group, lead convener Simon Kofi Nartey stated that teachers from the Colleges of Education have served for 12 months without pay (excluding September 2025), while those from the Universities have served for 8 months without pay (excluding September 2025).
According to Nartey, despite engaging with employers - the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service - who confirmed completion of all administrative and bureaucratic processes for salary payment, the Ministry of Finance has failed to release funds. A letter from the Ghana Education Service on June 24, 2025, indicated a budgetary allocation for the teachers in the 2025 mid-year budget statement.
The unpaid salaries have led to severe hardships for the teachers, including inability to pay rents, utility bills, and meet basic needs like food and medical bills. Nartey revealed that some colleagues have lost their lives due to these hardships.
There are also disparities in payroll placement among teachers from Colleges of Education posted in September 2024. While some have been placed on the payroll and receive salaries and arrears since December 2024, many others are yet to be placed on the payroll. Some have staff ID numbers but remain unpaid, while others lack staff IDs.
For University teachers, almost none have been issued staff ID numbers. Some colleagues' appointment letters remain unprocessed at Regional Education Offices due to administrative errors despite being validated by the Ghana Education Service in March 2025.
The aggrieved teachers are appealing for urgent intervention from President John Dramani Mahama to ensure the Ministry of Finance releases necessary funds for salary payment. They have given notice that if by the end of September 2025, they are not issued staff ID numbers, validated, and paid salaries and arrears, they will stage a massive demonstration on principal streets of Accra.
Following the press conference, the teachers plan to petition the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Christian Council of Ghana, Office of the National Chief Imam, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Islamic Clerics, and Catholic Bishops' Conference to amplify their plight.
The teachers emphasize that they are not threatening or undermining the educational system but are appealing for fairness, justice, and immediate release of their long-overdue salaries. They count on media support and the people of Ghana to amplify their voices until this injustice is corrected.