Unpaid Teachers Issue Final Ultimatum, Threaten Protests and Legal Action Over Salary Arrears

Ferdinand | EducationGhana | January 5 | Unpaid Teachers Issue Final Ultimatum, Threaten Protests and Legal Action Over Salary Arrears

Over 6,000 unpaid teachers in Ghana have issued a final ultimatum to government, threatening nationwide protests and court action if salary arrears and staff IDs are not processed before the January 2026 payroll.

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Pressure Mounts as January Payroll Deadline Nears

The Coalition of Unpaid Teachers has issued a final warning to government, threatening massive street demonstrations and legal action if outstanding salary arrears are not settled before the January 2026 payroll is finalised.According to the group, more than 6,000 teachers nationwide have worked continuously for 12 to 15 months but have received salaries for only about two months, plunging many into severe financial hardship.The Coalition says patience among affected teachers is “exhausted,” warning that failure to act immediately will trigger nationwide protests and a lawsuit against the state.

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“We Are Being Pushed Into Abject Poverty”

Speaking in an interview with Citi FM on Sunday, January 4, Lead Convenor of the Coalition, Simon Kofi Nartey, described the situation as devastating.“We are calling on our employer and the government at large to listen to us and have our arrears paid so that we can all have our peace of mind to continue with the good work that we are doing for the country,” he said.Nartey noted that the prolonged delays have taken a serious psychological and financial toll on teachers, many of whom are struggling to meet basic living expenses despite being in active service.

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Staff ID Delays at the Heart of the Crisis

A major bottleneck in resolving the crisis is the non-issuance of staff identification cards by the Ghana Education Service (GES).Without staff IDs, teachers cannot be fully enrolled onto the mechanised payroll, leaving them unable to receive regular salaries despite reporting to work daily.Nartey warned that the remaining IDs must be processed before January salaries are paid, or protests will resume.“The few that are left to be issued with their staff IDs should have it before this month’s salary comes, before we hit the street once again,” he stated.

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Coalition Moves Toward Legal Action

Beyond street protests, the Coalition has confirmed it is consulting legal experts to file a suit against the state, describing the situation as unfair, discriminatory, and unjust.Nartey pointed to cases where teachers who began work at the same time have been treated differently.“Some of us started work with colleagues who have received their salaries in full, while others are still going through this ordeal. It is just unfair, and it calls for legal action to be taken against the government,” he stressed.

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Background: Cabinet Approval Still Not Fully Implemented

The current standoff follows a series of protests held throughout 2025, which resulted in the payment of two months’ salary to affected teachers.During those demonstrations, Cabinet under President John Dramani Mahama approved the absorption of over 6,000 unpaid teachers recruited in 2022 and 2023 into the public education system.In October 2025, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced that Cabinet had approved the absorption of 6,200 teachers, alongside payment of salary arrears. The approval formed part of a broader government decision to spend about GH¢1.1 billion to regularise the employment of selected health workers and teachers.However, implementation delays have left thousands of teachers still unpaid months after the announcement.

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New Year Promises Offer Little Relief to Affected Teachers

The Coalition’s warning comes just days after President John Mahama’s 2026 New Year address, in which he outlined ambitious plans to improve education quality and accelerate digitalisation in schools.For unpaid teachers, however, those commitments offer little comfort amid mounting debts, rent arrears, and family pressures.

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“All Lawful Means Are on the Table”

The Coalition of Unpaid Teachers insists it will continue to pursue all lawful avenues, including demonstrations and court action, until:

• All outstanding salary arrears are paid
• Staff identification cards are issued
• Affected teachers are fully regularised on the payroll

With the January payroll deadline fast approaching, pressure is now squarely on government and the Ghana Education Service to act decisively and avert another wave of unrest in the education sector.  

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