GES responds to salary delay protests, urges teachers to unite behind one leadership

The Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has acknowledged receiving petitions from a section of newly posted teachers regarding delays in salary payments and the issuance of staff identification cards (IDs).

In a statement issued on June 24, 2025, the GES noted that the concerns were raised by teachers who assumed duty in September 2024 and have since faced challenges accessing their salaries.

GES explained that upon assumption of office, it conducted a nationwide staff validation exercise from 7–14 March to confirm legitimately recruited teachers and rectify anomalies in the recruitment process.

This exercise, according to the Service, was prompted by irregularities flagged in recent audit reports, necessitating thorough verification to ensure transparency and accountability.

To facilitate resolution, GES established a technical committee which includes representatives of the affected teachers to enhance communication, coordination, and feedback mechanisms.

“Letters have been sent through the Minister for Education to the Ministry of Finance requesting an extension of the expired financial clearance to allow for payment processing. Fortunately, a budgetary allocation was made in the 2025 budget statement,” the statement read.

Management gave assurances that efforts are ongoing to resolve the recruitment backlog and prevent future occurrences by addressing systemic flaws in the recruitment process.

GES also expressed concern over the frequent emergence of new groups of aggrieved teachers with shifting leadership, noting that such inconsistencies hamper effective engagement and tracking of grievances.

The Service therefore appealed for unified and consistent representation from the affected teachers to streamline dialogue and facilitate lasting solutions.

While acknowledging the frustrations of all impacted teachers, GES maintained that significant progress has been made and reassured that all genuine recruits would receive their due remuneration.

Background

On Monday, June 23, a group of newly trained teachers from the 2022 batch of Colleges of Education graduates protested at the GES headquarters in Accra over delays in receiving staff IDs and unpaid salaries.

The teachers claimed they waited over two hours without being engaged, despite submitting a formal letter outlining their concerns.

Tensions escalated when police arrived to disperse the demonstrators, issuing a three-minute ultimatum. The group resisted, leading to their forced removal from the premises.

Undeterred, the teachers say they plan to petition the Ministry of Finance and subsequently march to Parliament to draw national attention to their grievances.