Working 13 months without pay is unacceptable

Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has assured newly posted teachers that government is taking urgent steps to address the prolonged salary arrears that have left them working for several months without pay.

He described the situation as “an unacceptable labour practice” and pledged immediate intervention to resolve the matter.

Speaking at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, September 30, after receiving a petition from the aggrieved teachers, Mr. Iddrisu said:

“I’m here to receive your humble petition and to assure you that I will walk the talk on the issue of the unfair labour treatment that has been meted out to you. It is an unacceptable labour practice anywhere that you will work for 13 months without pay… Be assured that I’m on top of the matter.”

The Minister disclosed that he had already met with the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, on September 23 to discuss the issue. He noted that a joint cabinet memorandum, to be signed by both ministers, will soon be presented for consideration.

Mr. Iddrisu also revealed that government plans to recruit an additional 53,000 teachers into the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.

The assurances follow a protest by teachers from the 2022 batch of Colleges of Education and university graduates, who marched from Obra Spot at Kwame Nkrumah Circle through the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance before converging at the Jubilee House.

The teachers are demanding payment of 13- and 9-month salary arrears, respectively.

Lead convener Simon Kofi Nartey explained that repeated efforts to resolve the matter had been ignored, leaving them no choice but to demonstrate. He warned that the situation affects not only the welfare of teachers but also the quality of education, as many newly recruited teachers struggle to afford essentials such as transportation and accommodation.