ACCRA — Thousands of newly posted teachers across Ghana are set to stage a massive demonstration on September 30, 2025, demanding the payment of up to 12 months of salary arrears and issuance of staff IDs, in what could become one of the largest education sector protests in recent memory. The Aggrieved Newly Posted Teachers coalition, comprising fresh graduates from colleges of education and universities, has coordinated with the Greater Accra Regional Police Command for a peaceful march starting at the Ghana Education Service (GES) headquarters, underscoring the mounting frustration over administrative delays that have left educators unable to meet basic needs.
The planned action follows a one-week ultimatum issued on September 22, with the group warning that without resolution by September 30, they will “take to the streets to let Ghanaians know what is happening.” Lead Convener Simon Kofi Nartey highlighted the dire personal toll during a recent press conference, noting that many teachers—posted to remote schools since 2024—face eviction threats, inability to afford transport, and strained family ties due to the non-payments. “We have no option but to protest; our hardship is unbearable,” Nartey stated, appealing directly to President John Dramani Mahama as a “listening president” to intervene before the academic year fully kicks off.
This crisis echoes earlier demonstrations: In April 2025, over 100 teachers picketed GES over eight-month arrears and ID issues, while a June protest involved 2022 batch graduates facing similar delays. The coalition, representing batches from 2023 and 2024, blames bureaucratic bottlenecks at GES and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) for validation holdups, exacerbated by the transition from the previous NPP administration. With Ghana’s teacher-to-student ratio already strained at 1:50 in some regions, the unpaid educators—critical for filling vacancies in underserved areas—warn that their distress directly hampers classroom quality and student outcomes.
The protest route, approved for safety, will proceed from GES to the Ministry of Education, emphasizing demands for immediate salary validation, arrears clearance, and systemic reforms to prevent future delays. The group has vowed non-violence but hinted at service withdrawal if unmet, potentially disrupting schools as the 2025/26 academic calendar begins. Education advocates like the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition back the move, calling it a “cry for justice” in a sector vital to national development.
