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News Ghana
Teachers and Nurses Demand Accountability Amid Salary Arrears (Watch Video)
Teachers and nurses across the country have renewed calls for accountability as persistent salary arrears continue to place financial strain on workers in the education and health sectors.
According to the reports, over 6,000 teachers complained that they have worked for between 10 to 13 months, and they have not been paid.
Check out the Key Issues and Demands
- Unpaid Salaries: Newly posted teachers report going without pay for up to 14 months, while members of the Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives claim up to 11 months of arrears are owed.
- Severe Hardship: The lack of payment has caused extreme financial hardship, with reports of individuals unable to afford basic needs or facing eviction, negatively affecting morale and patient/student care.
- Administrative Delays: For teachers, a primary cause cited for the non-payment is administrative delays, particularly the failure of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to issue staff identification cards necessary for integration into the payroll system.
- Broken Promises: Both groups report receiving repeated assurances from government officials and ministries that payments would be made, but little action has been taken.
- Call for Accountability: Unions and associations are demanding immediate action and accountability, arguing that the government has a clear obligation to pay once services have been rendered.
The affected professionals say months of delayed payments have made it difficult to meet basic needs, including rent, transportation, and family responsibilities.
The situation has provoked frustration among affected professionals and intensified scrutiny of government management of public sector employment.
According to the Ministry of Education, there is no deliberate attempt to withhold salaries from teachers. Hassim Mohammed, the Ministry’s Media Relations Officer, explained that some individuals reportedly received fake appointment letters, and efforts are ongoing to rectify the situation. “We are aware of these discrepancies, and corrective measures are being implemented to ensure genuine employees receive their entitlements,” he stated.
Despite this clarification, many in the education and health sectors remain dissatisfied, emphasizing that delays in remuneration compromise their ability to provide critical services.
Labour expert Austin Gamey weighed in, stating that once teachers and nurses are actively performing their duties, the government has a legal and moral obligation to pay them. He further urged calm and restraint, cautioning against escalating industrial action that could disrupt public service delivery.
The issue has sparked wider discussion about accountability and efficiency in government payroll management, with calls for reforms to prevent future delays.
Analysts note that consistent delays in salaries not only demoralize public sector workers but can also impact the overall quality of education and healthcare services in the country.
As the debate continues, stakeholders are calling on government agencies to prioritize timely payment of salaries and strengthen monitoring mechanisms to safeguard the welfare of essential workers.
The resolution of this issue is expected to have far-reaching implications for public sector morale and the broader perception of governance in Ghana.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
The nation remains attentive as authorities work to resolve the issue, with teachers, nurses, and the public awaiting decisive action to restore trust and stability in essential services.
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