In Ghana, tensions are escalating as the Coalition of Unpaid Teachers, comprising college and university graduates, has issued an ultimatum to the government, threatening mass protests and legal action over unpaid salary arrears that span between twelve and fifteen months. This coalition, representing over 1,000 educators, is not only demanding the payment of overdue salaries but also the collection of staff identification numbers, the correction of assumption-of-duty dates, and the resolution of various administrative issues.
The group’s grievances are not new. In 2025, frustrated educators took part in several demonstrations, including the “Yeregye Yen Sika” protest at the Ministry of Finance, expressing their discontent with the extended delays in salary payments. The financial strain on teachers has been severe, with many struggling to manage debts, cover healthcare costs, and meet housing expenses, highlighting their dire economic plight (JURIST).
Despite ongoing discussions with key government bodies such as the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Education, and the Controller and Accountant-General’s department, the coalition reports a lack of meaningful progress. Enock Paul Ativor, the Lead Convenor, expressed these frustrations in an interview with a prominent news station, JoyNews.
The government, on its part, responded through President John Dramani Mahama. Speaking at the 54th National Delegates Conference of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the President promised a review of the deeply criticized Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) and the country’s pension scheme. He acknowledged the challenges within the salary payment systems, which have compounded teachers’ grievances.
Unpaid teachers assert that the government’s ongoing failure to resolve these issues breaches the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. Article 24(1) ensures workers’ rights to equal pay for equal work, highlighting a constitutional guarantee that teachers claim is being violated. Moreover, the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), mandates employers, including governmental bodies, to provide agreed remuneration promptly.
The situation reflects broader systemic issues within Ghana’s public sector financial management, and with the deadline for action set by the coalition fast approaching, the government faces increasing pressure to avert potentially widespread protests and legal confrontations.