A group of newly posted teachers in Ghana has threatened to stage a massive demonstration in Accra on September 23 if government fails to pay their outstanding salaries and arrears.
The group, made up of graduates from Colleges of Education and universities, says some members have gone 12 months without pay, while others have not received salaries for eight months.
At a press conference in Accra on Monday, September 8, the group’s Lead Convener, Simon Kofi Nartey, appealed directly to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and ensure immediate action.
“We know that His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, the President of Ghana, is a listening president. We humbly call for his urgent intervention to ensure that the Ministry of Finance releases the necessary funds to pay our arrears and salaries without further delay,” Simon Kofi Nartey said.
He warned that the group will hit the streets if their demands remain unmet.
“We are hereby giving notice that if by the end of September 2025, we are not issued our staff ID numbers, validated, and paid our salaries and arrears, we will stage a massive demonstration on the principal streets of Accra to register our displeasure and the hardship we are going through,” he declared.
Feeding and renting challenges
Some affected teachers shared emotional testimonies about the toll of going unpaid for over a year. “It is very bad. It’s getting worse because we don’t even have money to eat,” one teacher lamented. “We have to borrow from our own colleagues — the same people we graduated with and were posted on the same day.”
Highlighting the broader economic context, the teacher noted:
“Even those who are paid monthly are struggling in this economy. So how about us? We have nothing. This salary we’re demanding isn’t even much it’s just around GH₵3,000 to GH₵4,000. Meanwhile, some people’s gardeners and labourers earn more than GH₵5,000 and are paid every month.”
He added that many are facing eviction. “Right now, our rents are due, and landlords are threatening to evict us. They’ve made it clear — either we pay or we leave.”
Highlighting the economic strain, he noted: “Even those who are paid monthly are struggling in this economy. So how about us?
This salary we’re demanding isn’t even much — it’s just around GH₵3,000 to GH₵4,000.
Meanwhile, some people’s gardeners and labourers earn more than GH₵5,000 and are paid every month.”
Frustration Over Broken Promises
The group expressed anger over what they described as unfulfilled promises.
“The last time we came out, the issue went to Parliament, and the Minister of Education promised that by the end of last month we’d be paid. As of now, we’ve seen nothing,” Mr. Nartey said.
“We Educate the Nation, Yet We’re Treated Unequally”.
The teachers lamented what they see as a lack of respect for their profession.
“We are the ones teaching your ministers, your doctors, your engineers — yet we are being treated as though we do not matter,” one teacher said.
He stressed that the delays have not only caused financial hardship but are also affecting their ability to teach effectively.
“You want me to have stable mental health to teach, but you won’t pay me? What is more important to one’s well-being than receiving your monthly salary? You can’t expect us to teach with focus and energy when we haven’t been paid for 12 good months.”
The group says it remains hopeful for government intervention but insists their planned protest will go ahead if immediate steps are not taken to address their plight.
