Newly recruited teachers threaten renewed protest over unpaid salary arrears

A group of teachers known as Concerned Newly Recruited Teachers has threatened a fresh protest over unpaid arrears in a press statement. The group blamed the Ghana Education Service (GES) over its failure to honour its own publicly communicated payment plan regarding our outstanding salary arrears.

According to the group, the GES’ outstanding salary arrears payment plan has not been followed by the service, which has further placed the teachers in a very worrying situation.

“We, the Concerned Newly Recruited Teachers under the Ghana Education Service (GES), wish to express our deep disappointment and frustration over the government’s failure to honor its own publicly communicated payment plan regarding our outstanding salary arrears.” They stated in the press release dated 26^th May, 2026.

The government promised the teachers it would pay their salary arrears following the heated nationwide demonstration and subsequent engagements with relevant authorities by the teachers. However, at the time of filing this report, the government was yet to honour its promise.

“An official letter dated 20th April, 2026, with reference number GES/DD-G(MS)/1/26/212 was issued by GES announcing that approval had been granted by the Ministry of Finance for the payment of salary arrears owed to eligible GES staff from August 2024 to November 2025.”

The same letter clearly stated that the arrears would be paid in installments beginning in May, with four months’ arrears expected to be paid alongside salaries for the month.

However, May has ended, and salaries have been paid, yet not a single pesewa of the promised arrears has been reflected in the accounts of affected teachers.

This situation has left thousands of teachers emotionally drained and financially stranded. Many teachers accumulated huge debts during the period these arrears accrued and were relying on the approved payment structure to stabilize their lives. Some are struggling with loans, rent, transportation, and family responsibilities.

READ: See 2026 BECE Computing Marking Scheme (Final Copy Released)

What makes this even more painful is the comparison with our colleagues in the health sector. Nurses who demonstrated alongside us over the same issue received official communication and subsequently received their payments according to the outlined structure. Why is the same commitment not being shown toward teachers?

What country treats its educators this way?

We therefore call on the government, the Ministry of Finance, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, and the leadership of GES to ensure that all outstanding arrears are paid before the end of this month as promised in the official payment schedule.

The teachers have hinted at a fresh protest. “Failure to do so will leave the already frustrated newly recruited teachers with no option but to resume our picketing and other lawful democratic actions to demand what is rightfully ours,” the statement indicated.

The group has also called on teacher unions, civil society organizations, the media, and all well-meaning Ghanaians to stand with teachers in demanding fairness, accountability, and respect for the teaching profession.

READ: See the 2026 BECE English Language Marking Scheme: Download here

Now that the frustrated newly recruited GES staff have threatened fresh picketing (protest) over the unpaid arrears, it is hoped that the GES will be more proactive and avoid pushing the affected educators to the end of their patience.