Teacher unions slam govt over delay in payment of 2025 teachers allowances

Teacher unions (GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG) in the country have expressed disappointment in the government over its inability to pay two categories of allowances to teachers as agreed in the Collective Agreement.

The union’s displeasure comes after the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, in a statement, said two categories of allowances scheduled for payment in November 2025 could not be processed due to a technical hitch encountered during the final payroll run.

“To avoid any further delay in the payment of November 2025 salaries for all Government of Ghana workers, the processing of these allowances was paused,” the Accountant General’s Department stated.

It added, “We assure all affected workers that the issue is being resolved. The outstanding allowances will be paid together with the December 2025 salaries on 18th December 2025. We regret the inconvenience caused and sincerely appreciate your patience.”

But in a statement, the teacher unions GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG said they are disappointed in the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Education Service, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department.

“We hereby register our strongest displeasure with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Education Service, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department.

We call on the Honourable Minister for Education to ensure the payment for the two categories of allowances as agreed by the collective agreement,” the Unions said in a joint statement dated November 26, 2025.

The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, said in an interview that the collective agreement clearly states that the payment was supposed to be made in November.

The president of the NAGRAT, Mr Angel Carbonu, warned that the delay could cause anger among members, stressing that the payment is for a specific purpose and not a Christmas or end-of-year bonus.

“According to our collective agreement, this payment was supposed to be made in November; it’s in the official document. We have informed our members, and now they are bound to be frustrated. This is not a Christmas or end-of-year package. This payment serves a specific purpose, and we deserve honesty and fairness,” he indicated.

Carbonu also criticised the government’s communication, noting that the official release about the delay only reached him recently.

“If there is a problem, at least let us know in advance. Even the official release reached me only this morning. Our members think we are being irresponsible, but that’s not the case; they don’t know what is happening. We have made plans based on the assurances given,” he stated.