The government has responded to a protest staged in Accra by the Coalition of Unpaid Newly Posted Teachers, demanding immediate payment of salary arrears owed to them for as long as 13 months. Presidential staffer Bridget Otoo, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Finance have assured the protesters of swift action to resolve their plight.
The demonstration brought together graduates from both Colleges of Education and universities, who have been teaching in classrooms across the country without receiving salaries or staff identification cards necessary to process them.
The protest began at the Obra Spot at Nkrumah Circle. From there, the teachers marched through the Jubilee House and the Ministry of Education before converging on the Ministry of Finance.
Their demand was simple but urgent: pay what is owed and issue the long-delayed staff IDs. Leaders of the coalition vowed to continue pressing until their grievances are resolved, describing the ordeal as unjust and demoralising.
The protestors expressed deep frustration at the lack of attention given to their plight. One aggrieved teacher said, “ the finance Minister seems to be deceiving us.” He lamented that after more than a year of service, they had yet to see a single salary payment.
Another cried out, “Dr. Ato Forson, you eat every day – we borrow just to survive so please pay us.” Carrying placards and chanting, the teachers accused authorities of treating their contributions with disregard.
They questioned how a government that repeatedly assured teachers of being a priority could allow such a situation to persist. The coalition named their demonstration “Yeregye Yɛn Sika ne Staff IDs,” underscoring both their demand for money owed and the issuance of staff identification cards.
Government Responds
The marchers eventually presented a petition at the Jubilee House, where presidential staffer Bridget Otoo received it on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and assured the teachers that their concerns had been noted and would be treated urgently.
“The Buck stops here. This government prioritises teachers and we’ll treat this urgently,” she said. To further reassure the demonstrators, Bridget Otoo joined in their chants of “Arise Ghana Youth,” showing solidarity as she collected their petition at the Revolutionary Square.
“Have faith in the President; he prioritises teachers,” she added, calling on the Coalition of Unpaid Newly Posted Teachers to remain patient and have trust in President Mahama’s commitment to addressing their plight.
At the Ministry of Education, the protestors received further assurances. Education Minister Hon. Haruna Iddrisu described the situation as an “unacceptable labour practice,” and pledged that he would work closely with the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ato Forson, to resolve the matter.
He announced that he and the Finance Minister would present a “joint memo,” to Cabinet to ensure that the issue of unpaid salaries and staff IDs is urgently addressed. His statement gave a measure of hope but did little to soothe the immediate frustrations of the teachers.
At the Finance Ministry, the coalition was met by Deputy Finance Minister Hon. Thomas Nyarko Ampem, who accepted their petition. Hon. Ampem revealed that the government had already resolved to include the payment of the arrears in the 2026 budget.
“I was a teacher, and I was posted to teach, and I was not paid for 8 months. I can relate perfectly well with all of you. The Finance Minister (Dr. Ato Forson) says he sympathises with you, and he has briefed President John Dramani Mahama, and he has been given the green light to make sure he fixes your problem.
“The Finance Minister will present the next budget, and he will make provision for all of you to be catered for; you should be very happy that your problem will be fixed; that is the good news. You will be paid”
Hon. Thomas Nyarko Ampem, Deputy Finance Minister
Lingering Dissatisfaction
While his remarks were aimed at calming tempers, the demonstrators left dissatisfied as many considered the promise inadequate. They noted that they had already endured months without pay and could not afford to wait until 2026.
“This is inhumane; we’re not ready for the 2026 budget,” one protestor remarked bitterly. He expressed disappointment that the Finance Minister did not meet them in person, describing it as a sign that they were not worth his attention.
A large portion of the group of teachers shouted in protest at the entrance of the ministry. Their frustration underscored a lack of faith in repeated assurances that have so far failed to bring relief.
Despite assurances from government officials, the coalition maintained that it will continue to press until their arrears are fully paid and their staff IDs issued. For many of these teachers, the issue goes beyond money; it is a matter of dignity and recognition for work done under difficult circumstances.
The protest has highlighted a longstanding challenge in Ghana’s education sector, where delays in posting, salary processing, and issuance of IDs often leave new teachers vulnerable. With promises now tied to the 2026 budget, the coalition’s next steps may well determine whether the government moves faster to deliver on its commitments.
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