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A group of teachers who graduated from Colleges of Education in 2022 and were posted to schools in the Ashanti Region have petitioned the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, over the prolonged delay in their salary payments. According to the teachers, they have not received their salaries for the past seven months, despite fulfilling all employment requirements and diligently carrying out their teaching duties.
In a formal petition submitted to the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC), the affected teachers expressed their frustration, citing severe financial difficulties due to the salary delays. They noted that the delay has made it extremely difficult to cover basic living expenses, including rent, transportation, and food.
The petition outlined several payroll challenges that have worsened their situation:
- Some teachers were validated in December 2024, but their arrears were never credited to their accounts.
- In January and February 2025, several teachers were validated, but their payroll slips displayed a salary of GHS 0.00, meaning they received no income.
- In March 2025, the names of affected teachers were completely omitted from the payment voucher, creating uncertainty about their financial entitlements.
- A small number of teachers received partial payments covering only two or three months, but there has been no official communication on when the remaining arrears will be paid.
According to the petition, the affected teachers have endured financial hardship and have had to rely on loans and support from friends and family to survive. They are urging the Regional Minister to intervene and push for the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to rectify the situation immediately.
“We have been patient enough, but this situation is becoming unbearable. We have completed all necessary procedures, yet our salaries are still not being paid. This is not only affecting our well-being but also our ability to focus on our teaching duties. We call on the Regional Minister to ensure our salaries are processed without any further delay,” the petition, signed by ADK, General Secretary of the affected teachers, stated.
The teachers reiterated their commitment to their profession but warned that continued delays in salary payments could demoralize them and negatively impact education in the region.
The issue of salary delays for newly posted teachers has been a recurring challenge in Ghana’s education sector. Teacher unions and education stakeholders have long advocated for reforms to prevent such issues and ensure newly recruited teachers receive timely payments.
Speaking to the media, the spokesperson for the group, Mr. Adomako Korankye, lamented the distress caused by the delays:
“We have waited for seven months without any salary. This is not just frustrating but also unfair. Many of us are struggling to afford transportation to our schools, and some have even had to take on debts just to survive. We are calling on the authorities to take urgent action. If this issue is not resolved soon, we may be left with no choice but to explore other means to demand what is rightfully ours.”
As of the time of this report, the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other government authorities had not responded to the petition. However, the affected teachers remain hopeful that their concerns will be addressed promptly.
By Simon Opoku Afriyie
