A group of 250 teachers in the Northern Region, part of a nationwide coalition of 400, have petitioned the regional minister over what they describe as professional and financial injustice.

The 2023 cohort group say they have worked for more than 25 months without pay and are demanding the immediate generation of staff IDs and payment of all outstanding salary arrears.

The petition follows comments by the regional education director, who reportedly described their appointments as “fake” during a media engagement earlier this year.

Speaking after presenting the petition, President of the Coalition of Unpaid Teachers (2023 Cohort), Muftawu Malik Adeyemi, rejected the claim, insisting that members followed due process in securing their appointments.

“We were issued offer letters, regional posting letters, and assumption of duty letters. We had been teaching even before he assumed office as regional director," he stated.

According to him, the same official had previously signed documents, including IPPD forms, for salary processing when he served as a District Director.

“If our appointments are fake, why were our documents signed and processed? No official letter from headquarters has been issued directing us to stop work,” he argued.

Mr. Adeyemi maintained that Ghana Education Service procedures require formal written communication and not verbal directives.

He also stressed that their 2023 appointments should not be affected by any mass revocation of recruitments made after the December 2024 general elections.

The teachers say many members, particularly women, are facing severe hardship but remain committed to their profession.

“Some of our members have given birth during this struggle. Their children are growing, yet we have not been paid,” he lamented.

Receiving the petition on behalf of the Regional Minister, Northern Regional Coordinating Director Adolf John Ali assured the group that the concerns raised would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for action.

The teachers say they are hopeful for swift intervention to resolve the impasse.