GES schedules promotion arrears payment for 28,000 staff on November 16

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially scheduled the payment of outstanding promotion arrears for approximately 28,000 staff members for November 16, 2026. This announcement follows a missed deadline of October 30, which the government had previously committed to. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu clarified that while 52,000 beneficiaries have already received their payments, administrative challenges regarding unvalidated records and synchronization between the GES and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) caused the deferral for the remaining personnel.

According to a directive issued to Regional Directors, the delay was compounded by the temporary closure of the payment system for the processing of regular October salaries. The GES indicated that the system is expected to reopen on October 28, allowing for the processing of the supplemental arrears. Minister Iddrisu emphasized that the delay is not due to a lack of funds but is strictly an administrative matter. The service has acknowledged discrepancies in previous payment cycles and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the affected teachers and staff.

The Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) has reacted with a stern warning to the new timeline. Communications Director Kingsley Anyimadu expressed the association's disappointment over the government's failure to meet the initial October commitment. Having suspended a nationwide strike earlier in October following initial government promises, PRETAG has now threatened to resume industrial action immediately if the November 16 deadline is not met. The association is calling for greater accountability and transparency in how teacher data is handled between the GES and the finance ministry.

An emergency meeting between the Ministry of Education and teacher union leaders is expected to take place to address these grievances and ensure the validation process is completed without further hitches. The government has assured the unions that all necessary data will be processed by the CAGD now that the October payroll cycle is concluding. For the 28,000 staff still waiting, the mid-November date represents a critical threshold for maintaining industrial peace within the pre-tertiary education sector.