Newly recruited teachers in Ghana find themselves grappling with a disheartening lack of support from the very system that was supposed to uplift them.
These teachers, who were recruited in September 2024, endured a frustrating wait (with some still enduring) until December where only few received their first payments.
According to reports, while teachers in Greater Accra were fortunate enough to receive their full four-month arrears, many others were less fortunate, receiving only one or two months’ worth of payments, and some received nothing at all.
The situation took a turn for the worse in January 2025, with payment disparities becoming more pronounced.
Some teachers found themselves receiving only a fraction of their arrears, while others were validated for all months but saw GHC 0.00 credited to their accounts.
Disturbingly, many teachers discovered that their names were missing from the payment list altogether, exacerbating their financial struggles.
“It’s incredibly frustrating,” said one affected teacher, speaking anonymously. “We were so excited to start our careers, but now we’re struggling to make ends meet because we haven’t been paid what we’re owed.”
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As February rolled in, the problems persisted unabated. Numerous teachers still lacked Staff IDs, a crucial requirement for processing their payments. Others, despite being validated, continued to receive nothing.
To add to their woes, many who had been paid only a portion of their 2024 arrears were now receiving payments for 2025, with their 2024 arrears seemingly ignored.
Facing a lack of support from established authorities and unions, the teachers took matters into their own hands.
They formed a coalition and addressed a letter to the Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Regional Directors, and District Directors.
Recognizing the sluggish nature of the bureaucratic system, they also turned to social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and WhatsApp to amplify their grievances and gain public attention.
The mounting pressure resulted in a meeting with the former Director General, Dr. Eric Nkasah, on January 23, 2025.
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However, the meeting did not yield the desired results. Instead of addressing the teachers’ concerns, it became a reprimand for their decision to voice their grievances on social media.
Despite the chastisement, the teachers strategically apologized, recognizing the need to navigate the system carefully.
According to reports, investigations into the root of the salary delays revealed that biometric verification issues, which should have been resolved by GES, were at the heart of the problem.
Teachers who sought answers from the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) were redirected to regional offices, which in turn denied responsibility, leaving the teachers in a frustrating loop of blame-shifting.
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As the teachers continue to grapple with these challenges, several pressing questions remain unanswered:
- Why is the Ghana Education Service silent? Are newly recruited teachers expected to work for months without pay?
- Where are the teacher unions, particularly the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), which collects dues from new teachers but has failed to advocate on their behalf?
- Is the system deliberately designed to frustrate teachers from the outset? The current situation certainly suggests so.
- Are those without Staff IDs also affected by the recent revocation directive, further complicating their plight?