GES Addresses Salary Challenges for Picketing Teachers
- GES has responded to concerns of newly posted teachers demanding unpaid salaries after picketing at the Education Ministry
- The service said expired financial clearance was to blame and this was being secured with funds through the 2025 Budget
- A five-member committee representing the affected teachers is reportedly working with the GES to resolve these salary delays
- Zikira Abdul Bashir, a school administrator, shared her views on this in a discussion with YEN.com.gh
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has responded to concerns raised by newly posted teachers who picketed at the Ministry of Education on Monday, June 23, 2025, to demand their unpaid salaries.
In a press statement signed by the service's Public Relations Officer (PRO), Daniel Fenyi, the GES provided an update on efforts underway to resolve the salary challenges faced by some teachers.
Source: UGC
According to the GES, the current management inherited the issue of expired financial clearance, which lapsed on December 31, 2024, and has been working diligently to secure a new clearance.
The press release added that the Ministry of Finance has made a budgetary provision for the affected teachers in the 2025 National Budget, and the GES was optimistic that the necessary funds would be released soon.
Additionally, a technical committee comprising five representatives representing the affected teachers has been formed to fast-track the resolution process, and significant progress has been made, according to the GES.
GES reiterates commitment to Ghanaian teachers
The GES has reiterated its commitment to teacher welfare and career progression, prioritising the well-being of its staff.
The education management body also highlighted several initiatives undertaken under its new leadership:
- Processed promotions: Over 50,000 teaching and non-teaching staff have received due promotions and have been placed on appropriate salary scales.
- Salary reactivation: A total of 1,417 teachers have had their salaries reactivated out of 1,579 applicants.
- Ongoing promotions: Work is ongoing to process long-overdue promotions for teachers eligible for the rank of Deputy Director.
The GES appealed to the affected teachers for coordinated, unified, and consistent representation to streamline the engagement process and accelerate solutions.
The service acknowledged the frustration caused by the delays and urged patience and continued cooperation from the teachers.
“While we fully understand the frustration of the affected teachers, we respectfully urge their patience and continued cooperation as we work closely with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance to bring this matter to a swift and equitable resolution. The GES remains committed to equity, transparency, and the overall welfare of its staff.”
The GES, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance, is working towards a swift and equitable resolution.
With the budgetary provision in place, the service is hopeful that the necessary funds will be released soon to facilitate payments to the affected teachers.
The full GES statement is included below:
Reactions as GES responds to picketing teachers
Ghanaians on social media have reacted to the statement issued by the PRO of the GES in response to the concerns of the picketing teachers.
YEN.com.gh compiled a few of the reactions:
@Dawuda Muhammad Adel said:
"In the letter they indicated that a committee was formed including the representative of the teachers, this is not true."
@Paul D Williams replied:
"@Dawuda Muhammad Adel what is not true? It's as if you know nothing about the issue,yet you just want to comment on it."
@Oduro Nana Kwame also said:
"Please oh can't we have a period of 5 years with teachers complaining about postings and salary issues? Let's make the system work."
Also reacting to this in an interview with YEN.com.gh, Zikira Abdul Bashir, a school administrator, said that the Ghana Education Service’s response highlighted a pressing administrative issue affecting teachers’ welfare.
She noted that while securing financial clearance through the 2025 budget might resolve the current impasse, it was crucial for the authorities to establish a more efficient and timely system for processing such clearances.
"I believe the Ghana Education Service’s response highlights a pressing administrative issue that affects teachers’ welfare. While securing financial clearance through the 2025 budget may resolve the current impasse, it is crucial for the authorities to establish a more efficient and timely system for processing these clearances," she opined.
"Teachers should not have to endure delays in receiving their salaries, especially after being posted to their duties. A more proactive approach would help prevent such situations in the future and ensure that educators can focus on their primary role of teaching," she added.
Source: UGC
Haruna Idrissu engages with picketing teachers
In a separate development, YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu had engaged with a group of university graduate teachers who demonstrated at the Ministry of Education’s forecourt on Tuesday, May 7, 2025.
The teachers, who turned out to the ministry in large numbers, demanded the issuance of staff IDs for those already at post. They lamented the prolonged validation process, which they claimed had left them unpaid for five months.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
