Teachers recruited in 2024 staged a picket at the headquarters of the Ghana Education Service (GES) demanding payment of salary arrears and the issuance of their staff identification numbers.
According to the aggrieved teachers, many of them have not received salaries for over a year despite actively teaching and there being financial clearance.
The protest, which began in the early hours of February 18, saw police presence at the premises and featured placards with inscriptions such as “GES pay 2024 teachers now” and “We have worked, pay us.”
One teacher, who said he has gone without pay for over a year, described the toll the situation has taken on him.
“It has really been difficult. I’m a family man. I have 3 children. School fees, water bills, rent. I take about 3 cars to get to the school that I work. It has really been hard for me.”
He said the affected teachers have received conflicting explanations from various offices regarding their stalled payments.
“That our documents cannot be found. The regional HR said she sent our documents but we came to the headquarters and learnt our documents could not be found, it was not sent. Some personnel told us our clearance is expired we should go home and start over again. Others shut their door on us, others sacked us.”
Recounting an encounter with a staff member, he added,
“There was this particular personnel. I asked him that so is it our fault that having gone through this, if it’s someone’s negligence or mistake why should we suffer. He was bold enough to tell me that negligence is a normal no thing that happens. After working 12-14 months.”
He stressed that their demand is not for charity but for compensation for work already done.
“Ghanaians we’re not saying that Ghana should dash us any money. All we’re saying is the work that we have done for 12 to 14 months, what is due us, we’re just asking for it. That’s all.”
The teacher further alleged disparities in the system, claiming that some personnel recruited in December 2025 have already received staff IDs and begun drawing salaries.
The current Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, is said to have intervened previously with assurances that the affected teachers would be placed on the payroll. However, the protesters say there has been no progress.
“We know that people have been recruited in December 2025 and they’ve gotten their staff IDs and have even received salaries. Meanwhile we have worked for 12 to 14 months and still haven’t received anything. Our Honourable Minister came and intervened and he said we should all be out on payroll. We don’t know what happened.”
Another teacher warned that the picketing would continue and their classes would be abandoned until their concerns are addressed.
“This is not the first time, and this is not going to be the last time. If they refuse to release our staff IDs to us, we’ll be coming here.”
The teachers say the prolonged delay is affecting not only their livelihoods but also their morale and effectiveness in the classroom, as they struggle to meet basic living expenses while continuing to teach without pay.
